PRING WALK TOURS EAST DUBOIS AVENUE
On a warm, sunny day, sixteen people learned about the people who occupied the homes on East DuBois Avenue during the 16th DuBois Area Historical Society’s Spring Walk.
Tom and Ginny Schott led the tour along one of DuBois’ oldest streets, one that was once on the property of City of DuBois namesake John DuBois. The information presented was obtained from the Society’s collection. A search through several time periods provided names for those who occupied these homes. Not every home owner was researched. Many of the homes are over 100-years-old and had many occupants.
Stops were made across from 14 of the homes in the two-block area of East DuBois Avenue. Some of the owners featured included:
Educators: E. J. Mansell, namesake of the DuBois High School football stadium; and Edwin Zoller, first administrative head of the DuBois Undergraduate Center, now Penn State DuBois.
DuBois family employees: Samuel Eisenman, later a grocery store owner; Frank Hetfield, superintendent of the Box Factory; Harry Vosburg, later a grocery store owner; and Herman MacMinn, civil engineer.
Businessmen: Alexander Reuben Van Tassel, who established the DuBois tannery with John DuBois; and Jason S. Gray Sr., editor, president, and chairman of the board of The Courier-Express and executive with Tri-County Broadcasting;
Railroad employees: Pat Tantlinger, conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad; Oliver Faloon, an engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad; and George Beckwith with the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad
Mining employees: Charles Munch, general manager of the Buffalo and Susquehanna Coal Mining Company and later the Berwin-White Coal Company; and Captain L. S. Hay, U. S. Civil War veteran who worked in both lumbering and mining management positions.
Medical professional: Dr. Samuel Davenport.
The walk concluded at what is now known as the Symmco House. The house was built in 1900 by John E. DuBois and was occupied continuously by members of the DuBois family from its completion until 1998. The tour focused on the occupancy of John E. DuBois Jr., his wife, Rene, and their family. John E. Jr. served in both World Wars, served a term as a state assemblyman for the 2nd District of Clearfield County, flew over both the North and South Poles, founded Lake Rene (named for his wife), now Treasure Lake, and was instrumental in the development of the DuBois Mall. The property was acquired in 1998 by Penn State DuBois and renovated with Symmco Foundation of Sykesville contributing $100,000 and its name to the renovation of the house. It now houses executive and business offices for Penn State DuBois.
Noted during the walk was the lack of information, with few exceptions, about the women, who occupied these homes. In one case during the research, a woman was only identified in her published obituary as Mrs. “husband’s first name and last name”; that she died at her sister’s home and viewing was at her daughter’s home. All three women were identified by Mrs. and their husband’s name.
Upcoming historical society events are:
Annual dinner: September 18 at 6 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church. The guest speaker will be Greg Murray presenting the history of Murray Ford.
The Spirit of DuBois Lantern Walk: October 4, focusing on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Further details will be announced closer to those dates.