Boyertown Heritage Day Offers Historic Mystery; Can YOU Solve it?

by Lesley Misko, Krista Gross

Everyone loves a good mystery, and Saturday, May 18, area residents are invited to solve a local one when Building a Better Boyertown (BaBB) hosts their second annual mystery event, Boyertown Heritage Day: Illuminating the Past. The event will run from 10:00 am-4:00 pm.

Last year’s Heritage Day was well attended and enjoyed by participants, so BaBB decided to reprise the mystery concept… with a new mystery, of course. “Our little town is deeply enriched with a memorable and impactful past. Our intent is to shed light on how amazing Boyertown was and still is by hosting a modern-day event that highlights our history in a fun interactive way,” shares Krista Gross, who is in charge of special events for BaBB.”

Gross credits former long time Boyertown mayor MaryAnn Deery with suggesting the concept of people learning the town’s history by solving a mystery that is based on a historical event. “She was looking for something different, something interactive,” says Gross.

Last year’s mystery revolved around the Boyertown Opera House Fire. “This year retired Boyertown Area School District social studies teacher and local historian, Margaret Harner, approached us and said she had a juicy story about a miner at the conclusion of the Civil War,” Gross continued. It seems he flashed some “greenbacks” around at a local watering hole, and the rest as they say, is history. 

Participants will become detectives, collecting information from multiple locations within a short walking distance around the town. Some of the locations include The Boyertown Area Historical Society and the Colebrookdale Railroad. Each clue will get you closer to solving “The Ore-Deal at Phoenix Mine,” based on a true event that occurred here during the late 1800’s.

Along with a map, attendees will be equipped with all the tools they need to solve the crime. Participants should begin at the Detective’s Tent, located in the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles’ parking lot.

Like last year, some of the locations detectives need to visit will have costumed history re-enactors who will provide background information and clues. New this year, other locations will offer interactive activities for all ages. For example, Bear’s Den Fitness will host an obstacle course that requires visitors to complete some tasks that miners would have been able to do back then. Once all the clues have been collected and the detectives believe they have solved the mystery, they will return to the Detective’s Tent to submit their solution to the crime and be entered to win a cash prize. The interactive mystery should take about 90 minutes to solve.

Gross is enthusiastic about the event. “I hope community members will join us to solve ‘The Ore-deal at Phoenix Mine!’ It will be great fun to collect clues and participate in challenges --all while learning about the mining industry that began here in Boyertown during the 1800s," she summarizes.

The event will take place rain or shine… unless the rain is excessive. Check the BaBB website or the BaBB event page on Facebook for the final word. Organizers share that there will not be any food vendors, but the town’s restaurants will welcome hungry detectives.

Boyertown Heritage Day is free to attend, and no registration is required.

Building a Better Boyertown is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve Boyertown’s artistic, historical, and agricultural heritage by providing the Boyertown community with physical improvements, unique opportunities, and social interactions for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. If you are interested in contributing to BaBB’s mission or becoming a partner, please call 610-369-3054 or visit www.buildingabetterboyertown.org.

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