Foxfan

Has anyone ever met Mr. M.I. McCreight?    Any recollections?

Yes..I met him when I was a kid in the neighborhood ....At that time he was just another interesting person, although I knew that he had connections to personalties of American history, I didn't attach any significant meaning to that fact. I was in my early teens, and Major was someone who would talk to the "kids' who stopped by when he was out and about. I remember him as a very old man, who liked to tell kids stories. I wish I could remember them, but I can't... as I look back...I think Mrs. Mc Creight was alive, then, but I don't remember seeing her. I often wondered where their final resting place is....

I was in the house as recently as a couple of years ago, with someone interested in buying the property. At the time that it was built, equipment to dig basements was not available, such as we have today. Many old houses in DuBois have partial basements, just holes, unlined,  under the house, maybe big enough to have a furnace. I assume the Wigwam was heated by fireplaces, as there are a few, as I remember...

Wow!  I had no idea of the history of this place!    I grew hearing about McCreight's mansion and knew where it was (basically over the hill from me) but never saw it up close.    Amazing!

It is not, and never was a 'mansion'. I also grew up in that neighborhood, in fact I met Major McCreight on several occasions, as a teen. He died in 1958, I think some one mentioned here. The house, on the hill above Lincoln Drive, is in ruins, having been neglected for many years. At present, it would not be safe to enter. I don't believe the house has a basement, and the floors are rotted and the roof has not kept the water out, over the years. It is, generally, in a state of advanced decay. It never was anything except a big house, nothing like we think of as a mansion such as the John DuBois Mansion.  I remember Major on the wrap around porch, and several of us kids talked to him ocassionally. That was in the late 40's and  early 50's..The house did have some indian artifacts, and I vaguly remember seeing a few of them. He owned all of the land around the 'Wigwam", and sold building lots all over the area and  over in the area of  S. Main Street Extension. He named that area Rhemvale, I believe, after his son.  The name never stuck. He was a major force in the DuBois area.

Moth Balls.....

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the American Civil War. The GAR was among the first organized interest groups in American politics. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW).

 

If we only had a list of names of people in that picture... I'm sure many of my relatives would have been  there ....Rumbarger Cemetery was in the middle of their neighborhood.......Priceless....

Opera Houses and Theaters in DuBois

The City of DuBois has had a number of theaters over the years. Some contained stages and others contained movie screens. Either way, the locals were entertained.

 

An Opera House was built in 1880. It opened in November and was destroyed by fire the third night after opening

 

The Central Opera House opened on January 2, 1883 and seated 900. White pine was used instead of steel. The third and fourth floors were used for the opera house. In the beginning, due to the City

that was at the pershing right?

Yes, also the 'Playhouse'.DuBois had 3 theaters, at one point..remember those were the days before TV...The 'Carlton Theatre' was located on Long Avenue, where the DuBois Historical Society is now located. The Avenue Theater ran 'serial' cowboy and indian movies every Saturday. You had to go every week, so you didn't miss an episode. It cost .25 cents admission. Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans, The Lone Ranger, and Tonto were the stars we went to see, though the serial movies were mainly not so well known stars. Then down to Nick's for a hot dog, for .20 cents, or Widman Teah for a cherry coke....

If there is an Indian descendant still alive, we could get him to open a Casino, and sell cheap cigarettes and liquor next to the mall....

elkstheaterdubois.....never heard of it, where was it at?

It was on Brady Street, across from the site of the present library. It also had a large ballroom on the second floor. Many dances, etc. were held there.

The DuBois Family

 

1626-1809, THE FIRST DUBOIS

We had many happy summer afternoons at Pee Wee's Nest. That picture looks like it was before the wooden dam was built. I wonder how it got the name?

From the History of Clearfield Co., Pennsylvania 1887 by Lewis Cass Aldrich page 58

 

"A short distance above the place where William Bloom settled, and at the point called the "pee wee's nest," there lived the family of Robert Cresswell.  They were poor, and had a large number of children.  Cresswell died after a few years, and the balance of the family moved to Huntingdon.  Robert Cresswell's funeral was the first that occurred in the county."

 

This is the oldest cemetery in the area, and it is still actively selling plots.

 

 

We had many happy summer afternoons at Pee Wee's Nest. That picture looks like it was before the wooden dam was built. I wonder how it got the name?

Ground Cherries

How to Grow and Use These Sweet Berry-sized Fruits

 

Most everyone had 'party lines' which meant you shared one line with as many as 3 to 5  other families...You picked up the receiver, and you could 'listen in' to the other peoples conversations. You were careful what you said, you didn't know who was listening....Some real fights resulted,  from some people hogging the line, and what was overheard...The phone bill was maybe $3.00 per month.Long distance was relatively expensive, and had to be placed by the "operator'...Before cables were made, each phone or party line had a separate wire to the nearest exchange. Which made 'private lines' much more expensive..The exchange in DuBois was on Scribner Ave, in the building behind the post office, then in the newer building on Scribner I think?..a block or so west..I think that building is still in use by the phone company..anyone know?

Did they ever do anything with the site that is supposed to be Tom Mix's birthplace? The last time i saw it 20+ years ago, it was a partial stone foundation of a cabin..

Oh my word!  That last photo is amazing.  I had no idea it had a garden like that.  I remember the day they tore it down and my mom being distressed about it.

You would expect Penn State to want to preserve such a historical landmark. They could have built a campus anywhere around that area, such as the land across the street in the 'meadow'...True, the mansion needed some major restoration, but it could have served as a community center of some sort..

How long has the old High School building been for sale now? The Hoffer sign (I think) looks older than me!

 

I don't see how anybody could economically afford to renovate that building. I am surprised it's still standing. Imagine just trying to update the heating in that building let alone run A/C through it. And some of you wonder why these old buildings are torn down, it's expensive!

That is the Wilson Building...elementary ...not high school...grades 1 through 8....It was a Sandy Township school, as were one room schools all around the township....some were Oklahoma [2 buildings] Gelnett....Sabula....Wayne road....Adrian Furnace.....West Liberty...did I miss any?.....Some of these buildings are still standing.....Sandy Township High School was up on the hill near where Wasson School is now...DuBois and Sandy merged schools in 1958...

Try nail polish remover..