City of DuBois, PA history

When in 1842 John DuBois of Williamsport passed through the region, he was impressed by the prospect of building a lumber mill here.

In 1850, he left Huntingdon County and moved first to Kittanning, Pa., then Black Fox Furnace, near Parker’s Landing, Pa., and finally to Brookville, Pa., where he worked as a lumberman until the end of the Civil War.

Girls as a general rule did not go beyond the common schools.1861-64, BUCKTAILS BATTLE IN CIVIL WARThe United States Civil War is the most devastating confrontation in terms of military losses in our nation’s history.

In 1865, Rumbarger bought from David Heberling 325 acres in the wilderness of Brady Township.

In the late 1870’s DuBois was granted borough status and elected L.A. Brady as the first burgess or mayor.The primitive style of life of the community is reflected in some early ordinances:Feeding and milking of cows on sidewalks or public crossings was prohibited.

When DuBois returned in 1871 to develop the property he had purchased he found Rumbarger living in the now deceased Shaffer's home.

1872-84, JOHN DUBOIS OPENS SEVERAL MILLS John DuBois’ first property development in what is now DuBois came in 1872.

GREAT FIRE, JUNE 18, 1888.The fire started around 1 p.m.

1893, FIRST FIREMEN'S PARADE In June of 1893, firemen lined up for a parade in downtown DuBois.

He later came to DuBois and started the DuBois Brewery in 1895.

The 23-bed facility was damaged by fire in 1909.

1919-32, PROHIBITION FAILS TO CLOSE DUBOIS BREWERY Prohibition was passed in 1919.It hit all brewery operations in the country very hard, with many of them closing, but the DuBois Brewery found a way to survive.

A second shaft known as B & S. #2 was opened just beyond Highland Street a few years later.Labor disputes in 1929 forced the closing of the B & S and Northwest Mining and Exchange Company operations, and they were never reopened.

At one time the chain owned 775 stores and 554 restaurants throughout the United States with headquarters in New York City.McCrorey was president of the company for 50 years, vacating that position in 1931 to become chairman of the board.

The railroads meant employment for a thousand persons in DuBois with the locomotive and car shops.On June 15, 1954, hundreds of area residents made the last ride on the C & M Junction Division of the B & O Railroad from DuBois to Clearfield.