Fort Ligonier offers items for bid online and at the Cannon Ball; Forbes Road Rum to be released
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Sep. 10—A dinner with "George Washington" and a VIP tour of Mount Vernon are among choice items that will be awarded during in-person bidding Friday at Fort Ligonier's annual Cannon Ball.
Dress is "smart casual" for the event, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. under tents in the Lower Fort area of the recreated British frontier outpost established during the French and Indian War.
Auctioneer Mark Ferry will accept live bids at the gathering for seven items — including a dinner for six with Dean Malissa at a historic Ligonier Valley log cabin along the colonial Forbes Road route that predated modern Route 30. Malissa portrayed George Washington for 22 years at Washington's Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. He has joined the fort's board of trustees and is chairing this year's Cannon Ball.
"Washington loved financial solvency and a great party — and a great party is being planned to raise vital funds for the ongoing preservation of this significant historic site and development of enriching educational programs," Malissa said.
On Nov. 12, 1758, while serving as a 26-year-old colonel at Fort Ligonier, Washington is credited with helping to halt a "friendly fire" incident. Two groups of colonial Virginia troops mistook each other for the enemy while defending against raiding French Marines and Native Americans amid foggy conditions.
The private VIP tour of Mount Vernon includes the mansion, grounds, gardens and library, where the winning bidder and a guest will view original Washington documents. Lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn and an overnight stay are included.
Other items for attending bidders to consider include: "Otter Joy," a bronze sculpture of a lively otter by artist Chas Fagan, who grew up in Ligonier; a custom kid-size fort built by Eric Lebo, the fort's director of preservation and restoration; a Winchester 101 deluxe shotgun; a round of golf for three, plus lunch and cocktails, at the Laurel Valley Golf Club; a Masters golf package, including two badges to attend any one day of the 2023 or 2024 tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, $500 toward lodging and an array of Masters merchandise including apparel, chairs, umbrellas and golf balls.
Online auction underway
Bidders don't need to attend the ball to get in on the action for about two dozen additional items.
Anyone can place bids for those lots online through 8:30 p.m. Friday . To view and bid on items, visit fort.givesmart.com or text "Fort" to 76278.
The online lots include: an NFL game ball signed by Franco Harris; a delivered sushi dinner for four; a fishing experience in Spruce Creek; a Director's Tour of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia; and a Wild Encounter for four at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
Rum will be unveiled
Those attending the ball will witness the introduction of Forbes Road Rum, a limited-edition spiced rum created for Fort Ligonier by Wigle Whiskey. It will go on sale to the general public the following day in the fort's museum store, at $50 per .375 ml bottle.
Rum was an essential ration for the British troops who built the Forbes Road.
Music, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres also will be featured at the Cannon Ball, and valet parking will be available.
Tickets are $125 per person. They can be purchased at fortligonier.org or by calling 724-238-9701.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .
