Hey everyone,

I have something quick to ask and didn't know where else to turn. I've been looking everywhere, and I mean everywhere. We have a family home on Shaffer Road (Of what houses are actually left anyway but up for Commercial Sale) and I know the house has been here for quite some time. I found a picture of my Great-Great Grandmother when she was just a little girl, probably about 9 or 10 years old (So the photo would have been taken around 1906-1907; she is the taller one) She lived in the house her entire life.  Well she's standing right in front of it but you can't see much of anything except the corner of the house. It looks much different today, unfortunately.

My question is: Does anyone have any pictures of this area before 1970? I know it might be a hard thing to ask but finding things about about this area in particular is pretty tricky. We have looked through an old suitcase full of old photo's and postcards...most of them were marked "Shafferside" Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again.  

I love looking at those old time photos.

Have you tried looking at the Dubois Historical Society, uptown?

They might be able to help you but I think they are closed until April.

Yes we've looked, haven't found much unfortunately. First we were told the house was built in the 30's, but when we found the old photo's, we knew it was much older...and as a matter of fact, the house next door was the one built in the 30's...it's all Family Land that belongs to the Marley Family. Mary and Robert Marley are the ones who resided in this house.

Really, these places could sell at any time, and I was just curious as to if someone may have had some old photo's of the area...because once it's bought they'll be gone. It's sad to see such old homes that have lasted this long be torn down. Now from my understanding, my Great Great Grandma had lived here her entire life and she was born in 1896...so I think between 1890 - 1896 perhaps the house was built, but I'm not even sure.

Quoted from Pompeii

I love looking at those old time photos.

Have you tried looking at the Dubois Historical Society, uptown?

They might be able to help you but I think they are closed until April.

I may need to go back once they open up and do some more research. I do believe, also, that this area was part of the Shaffer Farm? Not 100% on that though.

Quoted from sscamaro

http://home.wrkcs.net/history/netpage%20shorts.htm

Thanks for the link. was pretty interesting stuff to read.  

Quoted from mobiethian

Thanks for the link. was pretty interesting stuff to read.  

yw

Shaffer side probably was the name for Shaffer Siding, the former railroad siding in that area.

Quoted from Santa

Shaffer side probably was the name for Shaffer Siding, the former railroad siding in that area.

Possibly, not sure though. Been searching all day long and all we've found were actual Downtown DuBois things, nothing about this particular area.

I've got two books written by Janice Nichols, (published by the DuBois Historical Society), that I'll have to dust off and look into for you. I believe the DuBois Library has a copy of these.

DuBois Where and When Vol 1 and Vol 2.

Chapter 5 of Vol. 1 is called: DuBois, Here we come - The Early Years - The Shaffer Story.

Quoted from Jeepman82

I've got two books written by Janice Nichols, (published by the DuBois Historical Society), that I'll have to dust off and look into for you. I believe the DuBois Library has a copy of these.

DuBois Where and When Vol 1 and Vol 2.

Chapter 5 of Vol. 1 is called: DuBois, Here we come - The Early Years - The Shaffer Story.

I'd appreciate that very much! If I get a chance to get over to the Library I'll have to look into it myself. I was always told all of this was part of the Shaffer Farm, including the big cemetery up on the hill by the mall. I know a lot of the area was all woods before the mall was put in.

I knew Bob & Mary very well, also being from Oklahoma. They were
both the nicest people that you would ever want to know. I was in there
home a good many times.  Sorry that I don't have any pictures to help
you.

Quoted from oklahoma4664

I knew Bob & Mary very well, also being from Oklahoma. They were
both the nicest people that you would ever want to know. I was in there
home a good many times.  Sorry that I don't have any pictures to help
you.

Oh really? That's wonderful to hear that you knew them. I don't remember my Great Great Grandpa Marley but I do remember My Great Great Grandma since I knew her for a few years before she passed.

Yes, I was always told they were very friendly and wonderful people. My aunt owns all of this property now and I've actually been restoring the inside. It got bad for a few years after different people live here but since we're the last ones, I figured it would be a neat thing to restore some of the house and maybe find some history on in, because after it sells it will more than likely be torn down.

Quoted from sscamaro

http://home.wrkcs.net/history/netpage%20shorts.htm

Great link SS, thank you.

I should have mentioned that the other little girl in the picture is Lillian Fair. I'm posting another picture of my Great Great Grandma Mary (About 17 years old I do believe)

The back is marked "Mary E. Parson Myers...though in many other pictures and post cards, they were just marked Mary Myers, Parson only comes up on photos very few times. I'm not sure, but I think someone may have said the Fairs are the ones who took Mary in when she was a little girl, so this might have been their house. I'm guessing she inherited the house when she was old? Really, I don't know. I'm going to continue to do research.