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History dances to life at Civil War ball
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
It was like stepping back in time — the clothing, the hairstyles and, of course, the dances.
About 120 people, many in period costume, attended the Gov. David Tod Civil War Ball in the ballroom of the Tyler History Center downtown, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Tod was the only Ohio governor to come out of Youngstown. He served during the Civil War.
He was portrayed at Saturday’s event by his great-great grandson, David Tod II, a Liberty native, who lives in Hudson.
“He and President Lincoln were very close and they spent time together during the war,” Tod said. “One day the president said, ‘My wife [Mary Todd Lincoln] spells her name with two D’s. Why do you only spell it with one?’ Gov. Tod replied, ‘God is spelled with only one D and if it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for Tod.’”
Tod’s wife, Rollin, and the couple’s three daughters, Holly, Parker and Hilary, accompanied him to the ball.
The Tod family’s philanthropic contributions include the establishment of the Tod Hospital Foundation and the former Tod Children’s Hospital, now Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley.
Janet Moy LaMonica, who organized the ball, said when she saw the history center’s ballroom, she thought it would be fitting to fill it with graceful dancers.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the educational programs of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.
Bill Lawson, historical society executive director, said the attendance, which included people of varied ages from throughout the region, could prompt future Civil War balls at the center.
He was also grateful to the descendants of the Civil War governor for coming.
“It says a lot about the family that they remain active in the community,” Lawson said.
Attendees learned period dances including the Virginia Reel, Soldier’s Joy, Lancer’s Quadrille and Circle Dance, taught by dance mistress Carol Kopp of Cleveland, a nationally recognized English country and contra dance caller.
Julie Kalsbeek of North Bloomfield rented her Civil War gown, complete with hoop skirt, at a costume shop. An English country dance enthusiast, Kalsbeek came for the dancing. Of the dances performed Saturday, she said the Virginia Reel is her favorite.
Kalsbeek is part of an English country dance group in Chagrin Falls and makes the hourlong trip weekly from her home to dance.
“It’s beautiful,” she said of why she enjoys it.
Dan Gibboney of Pulaski, Pa., and his parents, aunt and uncle are all members of 19th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a Civil War re-enactors group. He wore his uniform to strut his stuff on the dance floor.
“Every Saturday night during a re- enactment we have a ball,” he said.
The dances were familiar, although each instructor or caller has some variation, Gibboney said.
Ron Orkis and Dr. Holly Ray of Brookfield are Civil War buffs and got married in 2008 at Gettysburg. His Civil War uniform and her floor-length gown are pieces they bought there and they return each year for their anniversary.
In September, the couple attended a Civil War ball in Winchester, Va., and enjoyed it.
“We love living history,” Orkis said. “When we found out this was happening, we knew we had to be here.”