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"Inside The Wigwam"

"Inside The Wigwam"

MI and Alice's Golden Anniversary at The Wigwam July 20, 1937 Front Row: Catherine, M.I. Alice, Don and Martha Back Row: M.I. Jr. , Jim, Jack and Rembrandt Thanks to Dick McCreight of of Flatrock, North Carolina

Chief Flying Hawk died at the age of 79 on December 24, 1931, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I believe we have a photo of the Chief at St. Catherine's and hope to post it. Chief Flying Hawk was right, his 1929 visit to The Wigwam was his last visit to see his white brother, MI McCreight.

Chief Flying Hawk's visit to St. Catherine's Church in Du Bois Chief Moses Flying Hawk came for his last visit to The Wigwam in 1929. He had been traveling with the circus, and the pony riding, war dances and inclement weather were weighing on his health at the age of 77. It was Sunday. Flying Hawk's leave of absence was about up and his visit to his white brother was coming to an end. The old man had arisen with the sun and had taken a long walk in the woods to see the squirrels and hear the birds sing, he said. After breakfast, the Chief said that he wanted to go to church. A car was brought around, loaded to capacity, and the old Chief, in full dress and just a little paint on his face to cover his wrinkles, took place beside his host for a trip of two miles to the big Catholic edifice on State Street in the city's First Ward. Throughout the sevice the Chief responded with dignity to every detail of the long and solemn ceremony--and it may be said too that he attracted the gaze of everyone present. When formal service ended, the popular Father McGivney came to take his hand in welcome and gave his blessing, but it was long before the Chief was permitted to take leave of his friends and neighbors gathered about him to shake hands. The Chief was visibly agitated and frequently referred to his disappointment in having to go. He said he would not likely ever come again; he felt that he would soon go to join his friends in the Sand Hills.

Chief Flying Hawk of the Sioux is Du Bois's most famous Native American. Flying Hawk was a frequent visitor to The Wigwam for several decades. The Wigwam was Flying Hawk's "Home" in the East when he traveled with Buffalo Bill and Wild West shows. Flying Hawk often rested at the Wigwam, wondering through the virgin forests that once surrounded the area. He hiked the nearby Indian trails, watched the game and silently smoked his pipe. Flying Hawk was not only a chief and a warrior, he was an author, historian and philosopher. It was during Flying Hawk's last visit to Du Bois that he and Major Israel McCreight wrote the classic Wild West narratives "Chief Flying Hawk's Tales: The True Story of Custer's Last Fight", and "Firewater and Forked Tongues.". Chief Flying Hawk and his son, Felix Flying Hawk, corresponded with McCreight for over 30 years.

Major Israel McCreight: Author, Banker, Conservationist and Native American Advocate (1865-1958 )

Merry Christmas from The Wigwam.

Thanks to Jeff McCreight for his posts. Read the full story of Cook Forest State Park by "MI" at http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/digitalbks2&CISOPTR=9473&REC=11.

Chief Waanatan of the Lakota and Major Israel McCreight: A Legacy. Link at https://files.me.com/richlevine1/xfir3t Courtesy of Chet Baranowski

M.I. McCreight and Du Bois history fans will enjoy reading the "Deposit National Bank Silver Anniversary Booklet (1880-1905)." The document contains a colorful account of the Great Fire of 1888 and many illustrations and photos. Download at https://files.me.com/richlevine1/2n9frr

Congratulations to the McAninch, Hetrick, McClinsey, Uplinger families. A wonderful family history.

Something special happened at "The Wigwam"... Something special can happen again....

"The Wigwam" - 2010

The Wigwam - Summer 1928

"Indian History at The Wigwam", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 1956

"Indian History at The Wigwam", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 1956

Courtesy of "Manycoups: Robert A. Stumpf" at http://manycoups.net/index.html

Reception at The Wigwam for Chief Iron Tail and Chief Flying Hawk (1915)

"Firewater and Forked Tongues" Courtesy of "Manycoups: Robert A. Stumpf" at http://manycoups.net/index.html

The Wigwam sits atop a knob in Sandy Township where the Great Divide of the Alleghenies was once visible 18 miles to the East. Locally, the knob was known as "Prospect Knob" and later the "Pimlacle." Although the vista is now obscured by tree growth, one can still see the tops of two large conifers at The Wigwam for miles. The Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway eventually became US 119 (Blairsville to Du Bois) and US 219 (Du Bois to New York). M.I. McCreight was Secretary of the Association. "An Hour at The Wigwam", Motoring Through Nature's Gallery on the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway, The Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway Association (1927).

Major Israel McCreight Writings (1905-1957) "Dean of Du Bois writers was M.I. McCreight who wrote and published more books than all the others Despite a busy business life, this former banker and industrialist wrote 12 books and innumerable magazine articles. Titles of books included "Memory Sketches of Du Bois," "Chief Flying Hawk," "George Washington - Human," "Will Rogers," "Go West Young Man," "Firewater and Forked Tongues," and "The Killing of Pat McWeeney," which was included in "The Westerners" and is regarded as a collector's item." Jason S. Gray, The Best of Reflections: History and Personal Reflections of Life in the Du Bois Area, Du Bois Area Historical Society (1991). Many of M.I. McCreight's books are still published...even in India!

Major Israel McCreight Chief

I've had inquiries about the M.I. McCreight Family. Here is some information from M.I. McCreight's Biography:

"The Du Bois Forestry Club", Du Bois, PA M.I. McCreight was a Roosevelt Era Conservationist, as well as a Native American friend and advocate. M.I. McCreight founded the