DUBOIS – When the high winds that swept the DuBois area earlier in the day abated, 143 people took the opportunity to attend the 4th Annual DuBois Area Historical Society Spirit of DuBois Lantern Walk.
“The historical society is quite pleased with the turnout and the support of many businesses, groups and individuals, some at the last minute,” said Tom Schott, chair of the event. “We had planned to have a tent errected for one of the stops, but that proved impossible in the wind. Ted Klark of Penn Central Doors came through to let us use one of his buildings, which are the last standing DuBois Brewing Company buildings.”
The theme for the night was visiting the DuBois Brewery. Seven tours left from the United Way Office, which allowed their building to be used as the starting point.
Nine stops were made at the former brewery site and in surrounding neighborhoods, where participants met with the “Spirit” that has inspired the DuBois community.
First up was a meeting with an aboltionist performed by Carolyn Rhoades, who set the stage that the visitors had arrived during Prohibition. Frank Hahne Sr. performed by Tom Shade provided background on the founding of the brewery, how it continued to function during Prohibition, and provided everyone with a drink of root beer. Two Hahne’s children, Frank Jr. and Marie, performed by Frank and Kathy Foulkrod, related the rest of the brewery history from the original Hahne home now owned by Joe and Pat Kirk, who gave their permission to use their yard and porch.
Following the brewery area, the tours met with Joseph, performed by sixth-grader Caleb Thompson, who talked about attending St. Joseph’s school; undertaker Paul Woods performed by Mark Falvo, who was the first to occupy the building that is now the Goble-Baronick Funeral Home; a Chinese woman, performed by Susan Ayrault, who provided her own dialogue in Chinese while extolling the virtunes of a Chinese laundry operated by venerable Yee Quong on Franklin St.; the Salvation Army, where Major Robin Maddock and Karen Filkins-Sanders, attired in time period uniforms and using time-period props and instruments, related a brief history of their church in DuBois; a second bell ringer, the cow Esmeralda, performed by Ginny Schott, spoke about bovine history and the relationship between cows, the brewery and V. T. Smith Dairy; and Ed Levine performed by Todd Shindledecker at the Temple Sons of Israel, where a brief history of the DuBois Jewish community was presented.
Tour leaders Todd Thompson, Galen Kilmer, Paul Bojalad, and Mike Gressler carried the lanterns and provided additional historical narration and information. Accompanying the tours were Gene Aravich, Jeanne Hayes, Susie Shaffer, and Jerry Watson.
“The historical society was pleased to see a greater number of children and students go on the walk,” said Schott. “An effort is made to have a program that can be enjoyed by all ages. The committee starts its work in January to prepare the program.”
Researching and writing the scripts and the narration were Gene Aravich, Tom Schott, Beecher Klingensmith, Ginny Schott, Todd Thompson, and Galen Kilmer.
The planning committee were: President Evo G. Facchine, Gene Aravich, Jean Hayes, Galen Kilmer, Beecher Klingensmith, Carolyn Rhoades, Tom Rubritz, Ginny Schott, Tom Schott, and Todd Thompson. Providing additional assistance at the United Way and at tour stops were David Beer, Nellie Beer, Ruth Gregori, Dorothea Hackett, Jean Hayes, Audrey Lott, Linda Riccadonna, and Cheri Shannon.
Students helping on site were Kaitlyn Allen, Amber Bogacki, Tiffany Breth, Matthew Campbell, Alex Deible, Paige Espenshade, Samantha Faudie, Ben Hayes, Paige Kay, Aimee Shaffer, Meagan Smiley, Jenni Tonell.
Sponsorship and assistance came from Brady Street Beer Distributor, the City of DuBois, DuBois Area United Way, Goble-Baronick Funeral Home for the use of their property, Tom Hartzfeld and Vern Smith for photos of the Brewery Farm and V.T. Smith Dairy, Joe and Pat Kirk for use of their property, KMA Remarketing, Penn Central Doors, Penn State DuBois for providing the tent, the Reitz Theatre for costume help, the Salvation Army, Scotty’s Donuts, Temple Sons of Israel for use of their property, and Mike Weber for Essie’s costume and Peg Akers for Essie’s bell.
The DuBois Area Historical Society will conclude its 2011 activities with its Fourth Annual Luncheon, Nov. 12, at noon at the DuBois Diner. The speaker will be John Shenkle, “Sky Soldiers, Veterans of Air Combat.” The cost is $13.50 for the hot sandwich buffet. Reservations are due by Nov. 2. Telephone (814) 371-9006 for reservations.
