Belair Mansion Living History

One Day Event - Saturday, August 13th.
(AGSAS Annual Picnic & Summer Meeting to follow on Sunday)

Event organizer / contact: Colleen Formby. Please RSVP to Colleen if you plan on coming.

Background: This event is one day only, Saturday August 13, at the Belair mansion in Bowie, MD. It is primarily third person, although you are welcome to engage in any first person you desire, as long as you are ready to always talk to the visitors.

Hours: Belair is normally only open from 1-4 on a Saturday, but they are opening from 10-4 for us! We'll all probably go out and eat or go over to Colleen's and drool on her antiques when the events over.

History: Belair Mansion was built ca. 1745 by Samuel Ogle, provincial governor of Maryland. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are som links online for more information:

• http://www.cityofbowie.org/comserv/museums.htm
• http://www.cityofbowie.org/kidsguide/kids7.htm (good picture of the front of the house)
• http://www.bowiechamber.org/area/area.html
• http://www.sunspot.net/features/bal-live-belairmansion112102,0,2645730.photo?coll=bal-live-headlines (picture of the melodeon!)
• http://www.dailypress.com/travel/dp-travel-bowiepic,0,4120759.photo?coll=dp-travel-utility (another picture)
• http://www.oglefamilyofmarylandandalliedfamilies.com/belair_mansion_april_2002.htm Pictures from Ogle family genealogy website.
• Ogle Family of Maryland & Allied Families: Genealogy website. Info on Ggle family of Belair - a SUPERB website done by friend of AGSAS: reenactor and mourning expert Georgia Meadows

Event Focus: We're delighted to be invited back to Belair for the third consecutive year. The event focus once again is public education - although we hope we can do more of an immersion there sometime in the future. Belair is absolutely beautiful, and the staff is reenactor-friendly -- Pam Williams, our main staff contact, does Rev War.

Click here for photos of the 2003 event.

Accommodations: Colleen lives near the site and can put a few people up overnight if needed.

Presentations & Displays:

As per previous years, we will have a number of 15-20 minute presentations for spectators and a number of displays relevant to the Civil War era. If you can do a presentation or a display, please email Colleen.

AGSAS PICNIC SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

The AGSAS picnic will be at Belair the following day and will include a business meeting. Please mark your calendars. Check the Yahoo Group as there will be emails circulated about who is to bring what, food-wise.