Numerous stories, as recorded by three generations of an affluent family, will bring history alive at a Brownsville landmark.
Nemacolin Castle, on Front Street in the community's downtown district, will offer visitors a look at the architectural fashions of the mid-1800s and stories of lavish living within the castle walls at a Fall Festival on Sept. 29 and 30.
“This is our first Fall Festival in quite a few years,” says Colleen Rawson, a board member of the Brownsville Historical Society, which operates and maintains the castle. “Our 50th anniversary celebration in July had such a great turnout, we decided to do this one, too.”
Nemacolin Castle is a registered Pennsylvania Historical and American Frontier landmark.
It was occupied by members of the Jacob Bowman family for 170 years before Fayette County purchased the property in 1962.
“We'll have food, entertainment, craft vendors and historical encampments, both colonial and Civil War,” Rawson says of the coming festival.
Activities will start on the castle grounds at 10 a.m. on opening day.
The Outpost Band will perform at the gazebo from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Acoustic guitarist Fred Adams will play from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
“They were both at the anniversary celebration, and the crowd really enjoyed them,” Rawson says.
History Tours will be conducted throughout the festival weekend, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Ghost Tours will start at 6 p.m. and continue to 10 p.m. both days. Rates for both tours are $8; $4 for age 12 and under.
“The Ghost Tours are basically about the legends of the castle,” Rawson says. “They offer something a little different from the traditional scary-house tours at Halloween. They are not just about guts and gory tales, but about real stories of events that happened here. They are one of our most popular events.”
Rawson says this year's Ghost Tour series will kick off with the September festival and continue to run on weekends in October.
Volunteers dressed in period style will conduct the tours. Many are school students from Brownsville and Frazier high schools.
Nemacolin Castle was built by entrepreneur Jacob Bowman in 1789. Following his death in 1847, the castle was left to his youngest son, Nelson Bowman, who over the next several years, expanded the site to create its distinctive colonial style that features the castle-like tower.
Following Nelson Bowman's death, the house was passed down to son Charles Bowman, an architect and attorney, who built a fortress around the homestead where extravagant parties in grandiose style were reportedly held. Charles Bowman also filled the house with collectibles from his many travels as well as providing fodder for stories, as detailed by family members, about the ostentatious lifestyle.
It was the idea of Charles' widow, Leila, prior to her death in 1959, to have the castle turned into a museum.
Brownsville Historical Society President Bob Mammarella says the amuseum exists to preserve the historic tales of the Bowman family as well as the rich history of the town of Brownsville.
“History is a very important part of our lives, and so much of our local history is being forgotten,” Mammarella says.
According to board members, the castle museum attracts visitors from throughout the Pittsburgh and tri-state areas.
The museum is available for weddings and other events. “We've had weddings performed on the stage outside and inside the castle,” Rawson says.
The museum has an annual egg hunt the Saturday before Easter.
“We fill eggs with candy and hide them, and also have a bonnet parade along with the hunt where the kids wear bonnets they have made,” Rawson says. “We award prizes for the best bonnets.”
Nemacolin Castle, just off the historic Route 40 corridor, also takes part in the annual National Pike Festival in May.
Rawson says the museum's Christmas Candlelight Tours are a favorite. The holiday tours start the same evening as the community's Light-Up Night the Friday after Thanksgiving.
“All the (22) rooms are decorated with a Christmas theme and a tree,” Rawson says. “At the end of the tour, we serve everyone a cup of wassail and cookies.”
Colleen Pollock is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
