DUBOIS – The DuBois Area Historical Society will recognize the 30th anniversary of the E. D. Reitz Museum with an open house on Sunday, July 28, from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
At 6 p.m., Tom Schott will give an encore presentation of his program “M. I. McCreight In His Own Words.” The open house and the program are free and open to all.
Thirty years ago, DuBois did not have a museum, but it did have the DuBois Area Historical Society formed in 1982.
Hampered by the lack of a building, the society collected items, many of which were stored for several years under the swimming pool at DuBois Area High School or in member homes.
Guest programs were hosted at various sites including the DuBois Campus of Penn State, the DuBois Public Library, DuBois Area High School and several churches including the Church of Our Savior and the Presbyterian Church.
During the term of the society’s third president, the late Shirley Clark, a first home was found.
The society moved into a large third-floor room above Joe’s Tux Shop on West Long Avenue. Display cases were purchased and for the first time the society could display its collection and had a place to hold meetings.
Eventually, the rent became unaffordable and the collection was boxed again and moved to a storage room on Brady Street above the present Planet Bike. The society became vagabonds again meeting at the DuBois Public Library and DuBois Area High School.
All of that changed when the late E. D. Reitz accepted the position of president. At the 1993 annual dinner, Reitz announced that S & T Bank had accepted the society’s bid to purchase the property at 30 W. Long Ave.
The property was occupied in July 1994 and held an official opening in September 1994. To recognize Reitz’s efforts at obtaining a building, the society named the E. D. Reitz Museum in his honor.
The adjoining Lowe Building was acquired several years later, also during Reitz’s tenure.
The completion of the DuBois Area Historical Society’s expansion came under the presidency of the late Audrey Lott, when the other adjoining property, the Shively Jewelry store became available and was purchased in 1999.
The building is the home to the society’s genealogical research library. The three separate buildings became one with the cutting of doorways through the brick walls that separated them.
Maintaining and upgrading the museum is one of the main duties of the society, which operates with all volunteer help and holds fund raisers to keep the facilities open.
The DuBois Area Historical Society is currently in the midst of a fund drive campaign with a goal of $38,300 for ground floor renovations of the buildings at 28 and 30 West Long Ave., technology and furniture upgrades to the education room and improvements to the society’s Web site.
At this time the $24,180 in contributions have been received from the society’s executive board, the society’s membership, businesses and the community. The society will continue its efforts throughout this year in hopes of achieving success.
The improvement projects are vital to the continued operation of the museum.
The DuBois Area Historical Society is a 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.
For additional information, please contact the DuBois Area Historical Society at 814-371-9006.