1880's Historic Military Ball

The only persons in my family who ever were in the military were my Uncle Keith and my nephew Tom. Suzy's Dad was in the Army just at the end of World War I, but he never served in any overseas post. Nevertheless, we can enjoy things military, especially the pomp and circumstance.

So it was with delight that we learned about, and attended, an 1880's Historic Military Ball Saturday evening. Here in southeast Arizona, the 1880 period was a time of war. The Indian wars. The U.S. Army had wound up its Civil War duties, and was directed west to protect settlers and miners and businesses in the Apache territories. In the occasional period of relative calm, they celebrated with parties and dances, with the local townspeople included. Such was the theme Saturday night.

Period dress was the order of the evening. About 15 men were striking in their formal -- or informal -- uniforms, the businessmen and ranchers strutted in their finery, and the ladies -- well the ladies were resplendent in their bustled and hooped ball gowns.

The ball was held in the typical smelly old high school gym in the tiny town of St. David (Population about 1750, including outlying ranchers and pecan faemers) just seven miles south of us. Yet ballgoers came from as far away as Phoenix, Tucson, and Silver City, NM, for this gala affair.

Lemonade and cookies were served, and for $3 big spenders could purchase two bottles of sarsparilla.

As an added treat, one couple had brought in a huge sheet cake to celebrate the 16th birthday of their son, dressed as a Trooper.

We sat at a side table enjoying all the festivitees. First dance of the evening was a quadrille. A dance caller / instructor named Cel Potter led her charges through the intricate steps of a Virginia Reel.

At 7:00pm sharp the official event began with the presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance followed by a short prayer in the manner of an 1880's area preacher.

Then came the Grand Entrance and Grand Promenade. The couples marched down the center of the hall, then split off, one couple to the right, one to the left, until all had been presented at the front. At this point two couples would join in a rank of four, followed by the next two couples, each foursome again alternating around to the right or left, When the foursomes had completed their rounds, they joined into lines with four couples per line. At that point, the fun started.

The lead couple, at the end of the front line, led their line on a serpentine route, weaving between the couples in the second line. The first couple in the second line joined in the procession, and the eight couples proceeded, hand-in-hand, to weave between the couples in the third line, and so on. With close to 100 dancers taking part, it was a riot!

Once all the weaving had been completed, the caller / instructor let the entire line around and around in a spiral, bringing them to the center, around and around again, and even somehow managed to reverse the spiral to unwind itself. Our photos could not begin to tell the story.

There were dancers of all ages represented at this 1880's Historic Military Ball.

And I believe no one had more fun that evening that did my Suzy!

There are lots more pictures to see in our web album, 1880's Historic Military Ball. I hate to apologize for less than best picture quality, but we faced some interesting challenges with lighting and movement. Picasa helps, but can't do everything!

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