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"The Wigwam": Home of Major Israel McCreight According to the Clearfield County Comprehensive Plan: History, Resource and Preservation Plan (2006), "The Wigwam", home of Major Israel McCreight, is at risk and in need of preservation. The "Wigwam," is located on a high knoll in Sandy Township at the crossroads of an old Indian trail. It stands as a structural testimony to a time in the history of the DuBois Area that cannot be matched. Unfortunately this caption is too short to recognize Mr. McCreight's contribution to not only the area but also the whole country. From banker, author, RR president, to writer of the Conservation Policy adopted by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 for the United States, to rubbing elbows with important men like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Luther Burbank, one colorful part of his career must be told. As a young man, Mr. McCreight went west and eventually became friends with many Indian chieftains and the famous Wild Bill Hickok. After returning to this area, he invited Hickok to come to DuBois with his Wild West Show. He came on many occasions with his company, including Buffalo Bill Cody, Chief Iron Tail (whose face we see on the U.S. nickel), Chief Red Eagle, and Chief Flying Hawk (Chief of the Sioux tribe of North Dakota). They erected their teepees on the lawn of the McCreight's home, sometimes as many as 150 tribe members. At a ceremony held at the Wigwam during one of these visits, the Sioux adopted him into their tribe naming him Chief Tchanta-Tanka (Great Heart). In 1929, Chief Flying Hawk, successor to Sitting Bull, officially named Mr. McCreight his successor. This honor was conferred upon him for his service on behalf of the American Indians and their welfare. The ceremony was performed before the late John S. Fisher in Harrisburg. The 400-year old Redstone tribal pipe was one of Mr. McCreight's most valued pieces in his extensive collection. Another treasure was a carbine with which Crazy Horse killed General George A. Custer. Mr. McCreight died in 1958 at age of 93." See www.planning.clearfieldco.org/06Comp_Plan/06Chapter_4_-_History__Resource_Invent___Preservation_Plan.pdf

Excellent article. Thank you.

The October 30, 1937, issue of Boxoffice said that the new Harris DuBois Theatre had opened the previous Wednesday. The architect of the Harris DuBois Theatre was Victor A. Rigaumont. A photo of the marquee appears in an ad for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in Boxoffice of October 15, 1938. Any theatre stories?

Hi. Folks who played and hunted for fossils at the "Highland Street Tunnel" (aka "Cottage Hill "Tunnel, please check out the blog title "Sandy Greenway." Thanks.

Thanks for the picture of Green Glen Drive. The road to the "Wilds" when I was a kid. Great adventure. Remember an old reservoir and spring. Of course, there were only 2 or 3 homes at Lake Renee at the time, and just before I-80 was completed.

Very cool pictures. Always wondered about Westville. Thanks.

You have a great collection. Thank you. You may want to consider uploading these as an album on the Mt. Zion Historical Society (Bennett's Valley) new Facebook page. I'm sure it would be most appreciated, and more people could enjoy it.

Village of Sabula, Sandy Township, Clearfield County, PA

Wonderful pictures of Tyler!

Yes. Anderson Creek in a Class II-III+ whitewater stream. See www.americanwhitewater.org.

"Shale offers DuBois, Sandy opportunity" 09/04/2009, Courier Express "Sandy Township and the City of DuBois are looking for ways to benefit from the gas rush that has taken over the region - each in their own way.At the DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce's Business Over Breakfast Thursday, DuBois Mayor and acting city Manager John "Herm" Suplizio said DuBois is "right smack dab in the middle of it" as far as Marcellus shale gas drilling is concerned. The city owns 5,000 acres of land near the reservoir that has been a twinkle in the eyes of gas companies for about two years. "We are of interest to these people, and we have been in talks about them drilling for gas on our property," Suplizio said. "That's a very nice income for the city of DuBois. It will keep the tax base down." Suplizio added for the last six months to one year, the city has been selling water for Marcellus Shale drilling in S.B. Elliott State Park. About 10 to 12 million gallons of water has been sold so far. In July, the city bought 1,262 acres of land for $2.1 million across from the water filtration plant with the goal of drilling water wells. The city wants to drill the wells because even though the reservoir has been a pertinent water source for DuBois, the water has limited usages because it is in the Susquehanna Basin Watershed. According to Suplizio, the city is only allowed to use 2.1 to 2.3 million gallons of water a day from the reservoir, and currently it's almost at that capacity. "Hopefully, someday, we can use the water wells as our primary source of water. It will be easier to treat," Suplizio said. "Then, we can use our reservoir as a backup." When the city bought the land, its hope was to drill four wells that would have 300 to 400 gallons of water per minute. Although tests haven't been done yet, on the two wells which have been drilled, Suplizio said it looks like they have the capacity of 800 to 1,000 gallons of water per minute. "In all honesty, it's going to be able to handle any growth that comes into the area because we will now have both the wells and the reservoir to support us," Suplizio said. "The water is there, and it is amazing what we found." Although these wells could be up-and-running by spring, it will take one to two years to get to the point where the water can be used because of permitting. "Water is the future," Suplizio said. "Water is going to be what gasoline is today. Ten to 20 years from now I can't imagine what it is going to be like. That's why we have to secure it now."

"Shale offers DuBois, Sandy opportunity" 09/04/2009, Courier Express "Sandy Township and the City of DuBois are looking for ways to benefit from the gas rush that has taken over the region - each in their own way.At the DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce's Business Over Breakfast Thursday, DuBois Mayor and acting city Manager John "Herm" Suplizio said DuBois is "right smack dab in the middle of it" as far as Marcellus shale gas drilling is concerned. The city owns 5,000 acres of land near the reservoir that has been a twinkle in the eyes of gas companies for about two years. "We are of interest to these people, and we have been in talks about them drilling for gas on our property," Suplizio said. "That's a very nice income for the city of DuBois. It will keep the tax base down." Suplizio added for the last six months to one year, the city has been selling water for Marcellus Shale drilling in S.B. Elliott State Park. About 10 to 12 million gallons of water has been sold so far. In July, the city bought 1,262 acres of land for $2.1 million across from the water filtration plant with the goal of drilling water wells. The city wants to drill the wells because even though the reservoir has been a pertinent water source for DuBois, the water has limited usages because it is in the Susquehanna Basin Watershed. According to Suplizio, the city is only allowed to use 2.1 to 2.3 million gallons of water a day from the reservoir, and currently it's almost at that capacity. "Hopefully, someday, we can use the water wells as our primary source of water. It will be easier to treat," Suplizio said. "Then, we can use our reservoir as a backup." When the city bought the land, its hope was to drill four wells that would have 300 to 400 gallons of water per minute. Although tests haven't been done yet, on the two wells which have been drilled, Suplizio said it looks like they have the capacity of 800 to 1,000 gallons of water per minute. "In all honesty, it's going to be able to handle any growth that comes into the area because we will now have both the wells and the reservoir to support us," Suplizio said. "The water is there, and it is amazing what we found." Although these wells could be up-and-running by spring, it will take one to two years to get to the point where the water can be used because of permitting."Water is the future," Suplizio said. "Water is going to be what gasoline is today. Ten to 20 years from now I can't imagine what it is going to be like. That's why we have to secure it now."

DuBois purchases land to improve water resources Tuesday, July 14, 2009 By Josh Woods Staff Writer DUBOIS - The City of DuBois announced it has purchased 1,262 acres of land near its water filtration plant in an effort to improve its water resources. Mayor John "Herm" Suplizio said the purchase was made from NRI Corp. and includes timbering rights. "We've been talking about it for the last three to four years - we're looking for an alternate source of water," said Mr. Suplizio. "We're looking to move in that type of direction. ... We feel it better protects us from the watershed and things like that." Since that time the City has begun drilling new water wells which will be completed in the near future.

The good folks in Curwensville and Clearfield refer to the Du Bois Reservoir as the "Anderson Creek Reservoir." Similarly, so does the Clearfield Progress. The Du Bois Reservoir will soon be a secondary water supply for the City of Du Bois, allowing for weekend recreational releases down Anderson Creek for kayaking. Du Bois took a big hit over 40 years ago for holding up the development of tourism in the PA Wilds when it fought to conserve the Anderson Creek Watershed. But our stubborness paved the way for an Anderson Creek Conservation Area, with passenger rail and trail from Du Bois to Clearfield. Green jobs and a green economy for the Du Bois region. It'll be worth it, and a legacy for our children.

The Otocsin Project in Clearfield County Otocsin was born upon recognition that Clearfield County had the only state-owned land traversed by I-80 in Pennsylvania. In 1964, the Otocsin Project (1962-1975) was launched as part of the Project 70 initiative along with projects at Prince Gallitzin, Moraine State Park and Shenango Reservoir, Black Moshannon and Blanchard Reservoir, Ohiopyle-Great Meadows and the Kinzua Dam-Allegheny National Forest. Otocsin

During the latter portion of the Late Woodland period (A.D. 1000-1580) groups belonging to the McFate culture inhabited portions along the Allegheny Front in northcentral Pennsylvania. McFate sites have been located in Clearfield and Elk counties. A McFate site near Du Bois at Hickory Kingdom (Kalgren site) was a stockaded fort on a projecting point of the Eastern Continental Divide and close to trail systems. The site is 6 miles northeast of the City of Du Bois in Sandy Township. See MacMinn,

The Goschgoschink Path at Thunderbird Springs

The Anderson Creek corridor is part the Great Shamokin Path from Sunbury to Kittanning.

Rockton is a village in Union Township resting along Anderson Creek at the Brown Springs Trailhead in the Moshannon State Forest. Rockton has natural assets similar to Ohiopyle in Fayette County. The Rockton-Bridgeport corridor compares favorably to the Ohiopyle-Confluence corridor of the Great Allegheny Passage in location, topography, whitewater classification, water trail, vertical drop, put-in, take-out, history, railroad accessibility and nearby assets. The Cumberland-Frostburg corridor of the Great Allegheny Passage features a ride on a steam locomotive with bicycle storage, ascending from Cumberland to Frostburg on a 15-mile trip. The trail downhill to Cumberland is a

The Bickford Line Du Bois to Clearfield The

Anderson Creek Conservation Area "Place where there is a mountain halfway on the other side.

Last reported the Rockton BR&P Station is in Kane. If it's there, it would be cool to bring it back to Rockton for a PA Wilds rails and trail welcome center.

The Du Bois Reservoir in Union Township, Clearfield County, was the proposed location of a Nature Lodge in the

Hi Would any of you history forum fans be interested in starting a group on Facebook. It would be a great way to connect and learn more about our region. I am interested in rails to trails and restoring passenger rail transportation. Also, connecting Sandy and Du Bois with a greenway through the Highland Street Tunnel to the Beaver Meadow walkway over the Maple and Chestnut Avenue tressels. If you are not a member of Facebook, please consider joining. Please contact me through Facebook, or my email at richlevine00@hotmail.com. This could be very cool. Richard Steven Levine

I used to live in the Fourth Ward near Jared and Weber. We crossed the Sandy on an old railroad tressel bridge. The bridge was later demolished.