Aroostook County
Historical & Art Museum
of Houlton
Dance Cards, Tickets, & Programs
Sometime ago Cora Putnam saved some small pieces of paper that came into her possession, she saw the value in them.
These little programs, tickets, and Dance Cards were carefully saved by their owner, placed to one side after the event as momenetoes.
They give us a look into the last half of the 1800's in Houlton and what the citizens did for fun.
A dance card was used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball.
It was typically a booklet with a decorative cover, listing dance titles, composers, and a spot for the person with whom the woman intended to dance to be penciled in.
Typically, it would have a cover indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady's wrist or ball gown.
Sometimes it would have a small pencil attached to it as well.
Below:
The Calico Ball
at Liberty Hall
February 22, 1869
Below:
The Ladies' Ball
at Liberty Hall
January 22, 1869
A "Complementary" ticket to the
Ladies Ball
New Years Eve 1877
That 1877 one dollar ticket price is worth around
$25.00 today.
Frisbie's Hall was on the third floor of the Frisbie building below. At this time it was only 5 bays wide.
Grand Calico Ball
at
Frisbie's Hall
May 1st 1876
A program from the 1st performance of
"An Old Maid's Success"
at the
Opera House
December 3, 1890
Houlton's Opera House on Court Street
And we found some more
A Museum favorite the homemade
"Singing School" card with names.
Another Masonic Ball dance card from 1868
but a different lady.
This must have been a popular dance.
1925 Piano Recital Program
A Masonic Ball flyer from 1878
The $2.00 ticket is worth $52.00 in 2021
1936 Dance Card Elks Ball
The Elks Ball was eagerly anticipated for years.
During the depression years it was probably a wonderful escape.
