lj

I regret not buying the house and keeping it in my family while it was still in decent shape years back when my grandmother moved out. I did collect some very old family heirlooms before we sold the house so I am grateful for that.

The Wigwam - Summer 1928

I remember seeing this picture before. The little girl in front with the curls is my grandmother and the woman on the far left in the center row is my great grand mother. Wow that is amazing.

 

yea, it had 2 fireplaces, a gas heater in the kitchen, and cast iron radiators throughout the house.

 

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.

You are right on the fact that it is in ruins and not safe to enter.  It does have a basement, a fairly good size one, that is just a dirt floor.  I dont think that any of my family referred to it as a mansion growing up.  Most of the artifacts are gone but a few remain with some of the family members.

M.I. McCreight is my great-great grandfather.  my grandparents lived in the house for several years and I lived at the house for a few years as well.  A lot of the historical things and pics from the house have been distrubuted throughout our family and some given to the historical society before my grandmother passed away a few years ago.  It is sad now to see the house and the shape it is in because I have a lot of great memories from growing up there.  The house is now owned by people not related to our family and I have spoken to them a few times about what he is going to do with the house and he is unsure.