Bushong Reunion 2010

October 2, 2010.

That was one busy day here at the Battlefield.  Without the Volunteer Corps, we wouldn't have made it through.  Thanks to each of you that helped.

The morning began with the 2010 Bushong Family Players presenting "Portraits of the Bushong Family", a muscial and vignette program tracing the history of the 19th century family of Jacob and Sarah Bushong.  Julia Bivens was delightful as their 20th century descendant and our narrator.  The rest of the cast included:  Nita Gibson as Sarah, Troy  as Anderson,

Stacey (me) as Betsy and Evan Hunsberger as Franklin.

Ben and Daniel opened the program with a rousing rendition of "Turkey in the Straw" before being joined by Kaitlyn.  One of the highlights of the program was their version of "Shenandoah".  As the final note of the song died away, the audience sat for a moment in total silence before bursting into thunderous applause.  Goose bump moment for sure!  I am so very proud of our young people.

Kaitlyn takes a well deserved bow!

 Audrey and Allison were wonderful as they announced a "brief commercial".

Kaitlyn, Ben and Daniel then took to the stage once more with a fun rendition of

"Sweet Besty from Pike" which preceeded the unveiling of our quilt.

The lyrics to our version of the song were:

Did you ever hear tell of the quilt we have made?

With a wreath that sweet Betsy herself could have made?

We created a vision in red, green, and gold,

It will help our dear Park when it is sold.

Chorus:

Singing, please buy your raffle tickets today.

Singing, please buy your raffle tickets today.

First planning and cutting then sewing and sewing

Our quilt was soon growing and growing and growing.

We created a vision in red, green, and gold,

It will help our dear Park when it is sold.

Char was tempted to give up but she never did quit.

She sweated and toiled, her fingers were pricked.

We created a vision in red, green and gold,

It will help our dear Park when it is sold.

We all worked together, our mission was sure

Sweet Betsy was honored, our goal was secured.

We created a vision in red, green and gold,

It will help our dear Park when it is sold.

The audience gasped as Troy and Evan unrolled the quilt during the songs final chorus.

As a laughing, smiling audience left the theater, they shook hands with the cast and then proceeded to the ticket table and purchased

over $600 worth of raffle tickets in about 10 minutes.

Later in the day, the Bushong family was given a tour of the farmhouse which culminated with the unveiling of the North Parlor.  The family was overwhelmed by the room and were more than happy with the use of their contributions.  During the tour, I asked the group to guess our budget for the renovation.  The guesses started at $20,000 and went up from there.  They were shocked to learn that the entire project was done for $3,000.  Most of the credit for the transformation goes to the Volunteers who contributed so many man hours to the project.

During the family's dinner that evening, the North Parlor sampler was unveiled.  As you may recall, the sampler recognizes those who contributed to the North Parlor project.  It is now hanging in its new home on the wall of the North Parlor.

Finally the big moment arrived.  After months and months of hard work and an incredible push right at the end, the quilt was proudly displayed in the dinner tent.  After a couple of last minute purchases, our total raffle ticket sales totaled.................................

$2,420.00!!!!!!!!

Mr. Richard Bushong of West Virginia held the winning ticket and was so very pleased to take the quilt home with him.  His wife was already planning to display the

quilt as an art piece in their home. 

Each of you played a part in making the 2010 Bushong Reunion a great success and I appreciate you so very much.  More pictures from the Portraits program are on www.flickr.com/groups/nmbshpvolunteers