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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2022)
16 AUG. 3ÿ10, 2022 CULTURE & HERITAGE CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF EASTERN OREGON Miracle cure, anyone? Interpreter Mike Follin returns to Baker City as Dr. Balthasar By Lisa Britton Go! Magazine BAKER CITY — The slick-talking salesman known as Dr. Balthasar is com- ing back to town with his miracle cure for whatever ails you. That’s right — a cure for anything. And if you believe that ... Mike Follin, who worked as an educa- tion interpreter for the Ohio Historical Society, has portrayed Dr. Balthasar for 40 years. He’s brought his show to Baker City since 1993 when he o rst performed at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. He returns this week as Dr. Balthasar, and an additional character he’s never performed in Baker City. The o rst new show is Friday, Aug. 5. Follin, as Sean O’Shaughnessy, will share his story “Saints Preserve Us! The Irish in America.” The show starts at 6 p.m. at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, 2020 Auburn Ave. In character, Follin takes his audi- ence back to the 1800s as he tells the story of Sean leaving Ireland during the 1840s potato famine with his young bride, Mary. <Learn about their diï cult and sad journey across the Atlantic and the reality of coming to America, the land with the door of golden opportunity — arriving in New York City only to o nd the doors of opportunity shut tight,” Follin said. “Hear how Sean traveled to Ohio and made a new beginning and life for himself and his wife.” For his weekend performances, Follin will bring back Dr. Balthasar’s Traveling Medicine Show to “peddle elixirs and gossip — just like any good doctor along the Oregon Trail.” Catch his Dr. Balthasar show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 7, in Geiser-Pollman Park. Follin said when he developed the character of Dr. Balthasar, he did re- search for about six months and chose the name “Balthasar” from a Cincinnati newspaper printed in the 1820s. “I wanted to pick a name that was equivalent to a medicine man,” he said. THE CENTER The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is closed for renova- tions, but a temporary Oregon Trail ex- Travel Baker County/Contributed Photo Mike Follin will perform as Dr. Balthasar Aug. 6-7 at Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City. hibit is on display at the Baker Heritage Museum, 2480 Grove St. (across Grove Street from the park). The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon- 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 adults, $8 seniors, $5 ages 6-12 and free for 5 and younger. AIRPORT ANTIQUES & THE FURNITURE LADY Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon 400 S Main St., Pendleton, OR 541-276-1066 cmeo.org HOURS: Tue. - Sat.10AM - 5PM Closed 1-2PM for cleaning 1816 NW 51st St. 541.278.0141 Tuesday - Friday 10:30am - 6pm www.pendletonfurniturelady.com