300th/250th Anniversary CELEBRATION at Peter Allen House! - Day 1
- halifaxpahistory
- Jul 11
- 5 min read
By: Dylan Bowman, HAHS Board Member
July 11, 2026
Girl Scout Troop 10970 poses with distinguished patriots and community members of colonial dress. Photograph by Dylan Bowman.
Anniversaries Aplenty
When our Founding Fathers set their names to that hallowed parchment, do you think they knew it would birth one of the greatest, most prosperous nations in the history of mankind? Sometimes, I like to think they would, but another part of me thinks they would be surprised at how far we've come and at all we've accomplished as a people.
This year's Independence Day is different. Obviously, it is the 250th anniversary of our great nation, but there is more to be celebrated and recognized in our region than this one event alone; the historic Peter Allen House, which lies just over Peter's Mountain in Dauphin, also celebrated their 300th anniversary of the original house, and lastly, our very own Halifax Area Historical Society building on Market Street just recently turned 175 years old.
With such a great deal of celebrating to be done, there was no better way than to take part in a momentous occasion put on by the owners of the Peter Allen House to do just that.
The Peter Allen House Independence Day celebration kicks off with owners Frank and Barbara Pinto receiving recognitions from the government for the property's historical anniversary, and the Declaration of Independence is read by John Harris (Tom Pyne). Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
Heroes of Past and Present
The current owners of the Peter Allen House, Frank and Barbara Pinto, knew that the time of their property's 300th anniversary was coming soon, and Frank wanted to celebrate.
"We've run the Peter Allen House for 29 years," Frank recalled. "Early on, Barbara and I realized that if we lived to see the 250th of America, we'd also see the 300th of the Peter Allen House in the same year. I told myself that if I ever lived to see that day, we would throw a big party."
With that dream in mind, many months of coordinating with community members, historical societies, public and government figures, and other organizations went into effect, bringing the two-day celebration filled with revels and colonial humor to the forefront of the Independence Day holiday.
The first day of the event kicked off with speeches...honoring the legacy of the Peter Allen House, the previous owners, and the Central Pennsylvania area that had such an impact on the history of the property. Several official government recognitions were given to the Pinto Family, all the way from the local to the federal level (yes, just wait for it...).
Recognitions were received from the Dauphin County Commissioners, the PA State House of Representatives (presented by Representative Joe Kerwin), the PA State Senate (presented by Senator Patti Kim, Senator Lisa Baker, and Senator Greg Rothman), the US House of Representatives (presented by Representative Scott Perry), and our very own White House. Yes, the Peter Allen House in Dauphin, PA, just got an official letter from Donald J. Trump's office! Thereafter, John Harris (played by Tom Pyne) read the Declaration of Independence and the Tricentennial Program for all to hear. A real treat.
Visitors to the Peter Allen House Independence Day celebration enjoy the incredible spread of food and one another's company as the day progresses. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
Pomp and Parade
Oh, but the celebration had not yet begun. At noon, the entourage of visitors entered the Peter Allen House to feast upon the delectable tea that awaited them; sandwiches, various scones, cheese cake, fruits and cold salads, chocolate covered roasted nuts, cookies, pastries, custards and jams all sat waiting in colonial style for the community members that arrived, and were served in exemplary fashion by local Girl Scout Troop 10970.
As I ran around like a madman trying to capture every aspect of this explosive event, I noticed just how many PEOPLE had come out for it. An estimated 200 visitors arrived throughout the day to take part in the event. This was a far higher attendance than originally anticipated, much to the joy of the owners and those that had volunteered to make the day a success.
As Molly Pitcher (Dominish Miller), Betsy Ross (Becki Kraft), and John Harris (Tom Pyne) made their rounds to the well-stocked tables to tell stories of their lives and the histories that surrounded them, smiles and laughter could be heard between sips of tea and the occasional fork being placed on a blue and white china plate, which featured images of Independence Hall in all of its glory, beneath crumbs of delicious cheese cake. To me, this felt like a celebration worthy of such a meaningful occasion.
Visitors to the Peter Allen House Independence Day celebration enjoy the incredible spread of food and one another's company as the day progresses. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
Only the Beginning...
As the tea began to subside and those that sat indoors and outdoors continued to converse with family, friends, and community members, the Pintos began to give tours of the Peter Allen House and relay the tales and stories that lay within its walls. The hidden doorways were opened and histories of the family and home were revealed to those that had never heard mention of its prevalence to the area before.
Unfortunately, due to the horrific mixture of great July heat and imminent storms, the horse-drawn carriages and showing of "1776" had to be cancelled, mainly due to safety concerns for both the horses and members of the community who would have been travelling during the storm. And storm it did! Our greatest deluge of the year thus far arrived that evening, downing trees and powerlines for miles around the Central PA region, and causing flash flood warnings in some areas. We at the HAHS hope that everyone stayed safe and dry in that weather.
Regardless of the rain, we thank those that came out for being a part of something bigger. Something truly historical, and being a part of the community that surrounds us all. And this is just the beginning! Due to the major storms lasting more than a day, the second day of festivities, originally set to be on July 5th, was postponed to save the celebration from a similar fate as the evening of the 4th. However, we are looking forward to the rescheduling of the colonial costume ball at the Peter Allen House and all of the merriment that will surely follow.
Keep an eye on your email and social media for a new date announcement coming soon which we will relay to all ticket holders from the Pinto Family!
Until then, lets celebrate our history.
Visitors to the Peter Allen House Independence Day celebration enjoy one another's company and the tours of the property as the day's festivities wind down. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
Comments