Volume 30, No. 5
September 18, 1998
Scott A. Miller
Contact: Scott A. Miller 662-4844
NEWS
Parents Weekend to include Fabulous 1890s celebration
Parents visiting Mansfield for Parents Weekend Sept. 25-26 will have one of the region's most unique celebrations to look forward to -- The Fabulous 1890s Weekend in Smythe Park.
Sponsored by MU and The Greater Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the gala weekend revolves around the fact that the world's first night football game was played in Mansfield on Sept. 28, 1892. The match pitted Mansfield University against Wyoming Seminary and was one of the highlights of the Great Mansfield Fair.
To celebrate this historic event, the university, the Chamber of Commerce and the entire community join forces to create a colorful family weekend. This year's Fabulous 1890s Weekend begins at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, with crafts, food, music, soccer games, an old time tent tabernacle service, dance and balloon glow.
"The Weekend truly is bigger than ever," says Dennis Miller, MU director of public relations and co-chair of the event. "This year, for the first time, the entire Smythe Park will be full."
Miller said one of the goals of the 1890s committee has been to guide the weekend in a gradual growth process. Senior committee member and historian Chester Bailey, a 1935 Mansfield graduate, has been especially interested.
"Chester is responsible for rediscovering and promoting the fact that the world's first night football game was played by Mansfield University in Smythe Park in 1892," Miller explained. "It was played during the Mansfield Fair using lights by the then fledgling company named General Electric. Chester's goal has been to see the 1890s Weekend grow to nearly the size of the Mansfield Fair. We've just about done it."
Two of this year's highlights will be a one-man show by F.X. Brown, one of the leading portrayers of Mark Twain. The other will be a Civil War encampment and living history weekend with members of Cooper's Battery "B" featuring General Ulysses S. Grant.
"Mark Twain was a huge supporter of Grant," Miller said. "He even published Grant's memoirs and turned the profits over to Grant's widow. As far as we know, this is the first time since they died that they've been on the same field together."
Twain will give his lecture Saturday afternoon. The Civil War members will give talks and demonstrations throughout Saturday.
The weekend also features several other highlights.
The Motorless Parade: They didn't have many motorized vehicles in the 1890s and they're absent in this parade packed with 19th century costumes, tons of horses, magnificent carriages and marching bands. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Balloon Rally: Experience the breathtaking beauty of graceful balloons floating over the rolling Pennsylvania mountains. For an unforgettable experience, sign up for a ride!
Westward Ho! The West was still wild in the 1890s and the Tioga Valley Saddle Club adds some western flavor with cowboys, dance hall girls, a saloon and a variety of activities.
Family Entertainment: Strolling banjo players, bands, games and other family-oriented entertainment create a leisurely, fun day as you experience the color and friendliness of Mansfield in the 1890s.
Children's Area: Laurel Health System sponsors this popular spot to give parents time to leisurely shop at all the craft booths. This is a fully supervised children's area with games and activities.
Professor Marvel: One of the colorful mainstays of the Weekend, Dr. Marvel and Miss Eileen bring an all new show, which is sponsored by Citizens & Northern Bank.
Famous Re-enactment: Alpha Chi Rho members have the only team in the world that can accurately re-create football of the 1890s. It's rugged, fast-paced, and often humorous. It was called "the killer sport." See why!
Fabulous Fireworks: A magnificent end to a beautiful weekend! Commemorating Mansfield's role in America's history, the 1890s fireworks have gained a reputation for being intense and grand.
Tabernacle Service: An old-time event for the whole family to be held Friday at 7 p.m., preceded by a Hymn Sing at 6:40 p.m.
Admission to the entire Fabulous 1890s Weekend is just a $2 Fabulous 1890s button! In addition to the above sponsors, the Weekend is made possible by a generous grant from Pepsi-Cola and The Mansfield University All-Residence Hall Council, as well as all the campus and community groups who volunteer their time. For information, contact The Greater Area Mansfield Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield, 662-3442, or phone Miller at 4846.
Storytelling family helps its own
When the 18th edition of the Northern Appalachian Storytelling Festival comes to campus this weekend, it will be without one of the festival's all-time greatest tellers. Jackie Torrence was scheduled to headline the 1998 Northern Appalachian Storytelling Festival when illness struck.
And that's when her storytelling family came together to help.
NASF founder A. Vernon Lapps learned of David Holt's longstanding offer to help out if Torrence's illness ever caused her to miss any bookings. Not only did Holt make good on his offer, but he also has offered to donate his proceeds to a fund to cover Torrence's mounting medical bills.
"Storytelling is among the most family-oriented of all the performing arts," Lapps said. "One of the reasons is the strong family ties felt among the storytelling community. The tellers not only learn from each other, but they support one another. David Holt headlining this year's festival is an inspiring example of how far some will go to help someone else."
Holt, a Grammy Award winner for his CD "Stellaluna" and one of the nation's greatest banjo players, will headline the event with returning star Dan Keding. Newcomers to the Straughn Hall stage include Michael Parent, Billy Teare, Liz Weir and Laura Simms.
Feature shows are Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. The immensely popular ghost story session is Friday at 10:30 p.m. Other shows are Saturday at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
All the feature shows are $7 for general admission, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets for the Ghost Story show are $3 for everyone. Saturday afternoon shows are $5 for everyone. The Sunday morning Sacred Storytelling session is free. Order tickets by calling 4781. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 4781.
Lecture Series to discuss Underground Railroad
MU's Fall Lecture Series will turn its attention to the fight for freedom when Nilgun Anadolu Okur, assistant professor of African American history and literature at Temple University, present "Pennsylvania's Underground Railroad" Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. in North Dining Room.
The Underground Railroad was a series of secret routes and hiding places abolitionists used to help slaves escape. Philadelphia was a center for its operations, and many of its most important stations were in the counties of Pennsylvania. Okur's slide-illustrated talk covers the passages, inns, and isolated private homes in the woods used by the escaping slaves.
As a bonus, the MU orchestra strings will perform two slave songs prior to the talk. The songs are from "Colonial Williamsburg Odyssey," written by MU music professor Kenneth Sarch.
Okur is a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The lecture is cosponsored by the Mansfield Public Library.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. Steadman. Area music lovers and visitors to Mansfield's Fabulous 1890's Weekend can experience a full range of musical colors, moods and dynamics when the Mansfield University Department of Music presents its annual Prism Concert Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m. The Prism Concert highlights all facets of the music program including vocal, guitar, percussion, piano, and wind instruments. Approximately 14 groups will be featured in the program, which seamlessly blends from one corner of the hall to the next creating a solid hour of music uninterrupted by pause or applause. The concert seeks to present the gift of music as though experienced through a prism. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. All proceeds benefit the Music Scholarship Fund.
Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller
Missed opportunities and five interceptions spelled doom for the football team in a 42-11 setback to Westminster College in the home opener. John Maio and Matt Hanley recovered Westminster fumbles for the Mounties. QB Lucas Smith passed for 216 yards and scored from a yard out. Tom O'Donnell booted a 24-yard field goal. The Mounties travel to Ithaca for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday.
The field hockey team's offensive woes continued as it dropped a 1-0 decision to Marywood College (3-2) recently. The Mountaineers' junior goaltender Jen Manton turned away 13 shots allowing just the one goal. Her solid performance was again wasted as the Mountaineers managed just nine shots on the day. Mansfield (1-2, 0-0) will travel to Philadelphia Textile Saturday, and finish the weekend with a game at York College on Sunday.
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