Tripping the light fantastic: Dancing at the Balmoral Spa
A Shawsheen Village 100 Story
On summer nights in the 1920s, you could have danced the night away at the Balmoral Spa's outdoor dance pavilion in Shawsheen Village. The Balmoral Spa was at 305 North Main Street. Do you recognize it?
ACHC #2004.407.43
"Spa" is a uniquely New England name for a small local convenience store. But the Balmoral Spa was far more than a local convenience store. It housed within its marble columns a pharmacy, barbershop, hairdresser, ice cream parlor, and a large hall used for movies, theater, and dancing.
ACHC #1992.100.5
ACHC #2017.067.54
Dancing at the Spa
The majority of dancing took place outside at "the Gardens" during the summer months.The dances there began in 1921, flourished during the 1930s and the era of Big Band, and ended with the start of World War II.
ACHC #2007.024.1
For as little as 6 cents, you could dance the night away, and "trip the light fantastic," like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "Swing Time."
Shawsheen Village 100 is a community-wide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of Shawsheen Village. Shawsheen Village 100Â celebrates the rich and interesting history of the village and the important role it has had on the social, recreational and industrial life of the town of Andover, while encouraging the community to think about what Shawsheen can and should be in the future.