Boal Mansion Museum’s ‘Bob’ Cameron retiring in April

BOALSBURG — As a child, Robert “Bob” Cameron worked with his mother to restore their Montour County farmhouse, helping her repaint the antique furniture that filled each room — all while imagining the stories each piece would tell.

Now, after a 7-year tenure as the director of the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum in Boalsburg, Cameron can look back on the stories he has imparted on the 200-year-old estate after he officially retires on April 1.

Cameron, a doctorate of plant science, retired Penn State professor and sustainable technology business owner, first took the position in 2015, after touring the mansion and “seeing the decline from years of neglect.”

“When the opportunity became available, I applied, and if accepted, I would take a leave from managing my businesses until the ship was righted,” Cameron said.

Once he was officially at the helm, Cameron undertook the ambitious project of restoring the historic estate to its former glory.

“Most years I had the fortune of having between 600 and 1,000 volunteers assist on a wide range of projects, from construction of three miles of trails, a walking bridge, garden construction, lawn and road maintenance, arboriculture and so much more,” Cameron said. “I believe we have given the Boal Estate a renewed life.”

Cameron’s tenure was not just smooth sailing, since the coronavirus surge presented a new array of obstacles to overcome.

“The pandemic has been extremely challenging with the cancellation of so many special events over the course of two years,” Cameron said. “This resulted in the loss of approximately 98 percent of our seasonal income.”

Since the museum is almost entirely financed by donations and local grants and receives no regular state funding, according to Cameron, he had to find creative ways to adapt to a suffocated revenue stream.

“We cut our bare-bones budget further and initiated new endeavors to raise funds, such as the Ghost Tour of Old Boalsburg, which sold out in five days. Consequently, we have successfully navigated two years of the pandemic,” Cameron said.

He said he hopes that his efforts during the past seven years showed how to “make lemonade out of lemons” in challenging circumstances.

During his time as director, Cameron was also able to upgrade the visitor center, an outdoor stage for community theater and began construction on formal gardens to create a “Longwood Gardens-type environment,” he said.

In recognition of his “tireless efforts,” the Centre County Historical Society awarded Cameron with the 2021 John H. Ziegler Historic Award for Education and Advocacy.

“Bob’s arrival in 2015 was a transformative time,” Katie O’Toole, award committee co-chair, said during her speech recognizing Cameron’s accomplishments.

Cameron’s work to “revitalize, expand and reinterpret the museum’s collection,” as well as to “make these historic grounds an intriguing and enticing venue for the public” was what earned him this distinction, according to O’Toole.

According to Centre County Historical Society Executive Director Mary Sorensen, Cameron came to the museum at a “very challenging” time of transition.

“(The position of museum director) would require someone who had a vision and boundless energy — like Bob,” Sorensen said, noting the job would require the ability to balance preserving history, while expanding the reach of the museum by galvanizing the existing corps of volunteers.

“The work and advocacy of preserving history and historic sites often falls to a passionate few, like Bob … we are fortunate in Centre County to have several meaningful historic sites and amazing people who tell their stories,” Sorensen said.

“I’ve been blessed in my life, and the past seven years with the museum was a small token of my effort to give back to society,” Cameron said, “however, after seven years, I have undoubtably gained so much more than I ever contributed through the many new friends made, the knowledge gained and the incredible experiences I have had as the director of this incredible estate.”

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