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CITY OF DUBOIS Page 89
"This immense business plant enjoys facilities second
to none in the county for 'stocking' the mills, first by Sandy Lick
Creek with its patent dams, then by 'Clear Run Railroad,' which is
owned and controlled by this vast enterprise, is three and a half
miles long, employs two engines, fifteen log cars and three coal
cars; besides there is a projected log railroad known as the Juniata
Road, to be seven miles long, thus affording supplies of lots, etc.,
through the entire year. In reverting to the lumber yard and mills,
it is not to be omitted that all are protected by an excellent
system of water-works, planned by the late John DuBois. The
reservoir is located on the Third Ward, near the Episcopal Church,
with mains leading through the lumber yard and all the mills, etc.
This reservoir furnishes an ample supply of water at all times,
affording a most excellent fire protection, the purpose for which it
was established."
Of course, there had to be a market for the hemlock
bark and in 1883 Mr. DuBois associated with him E. D. and A. R.
VanTassel in a firm known as DuBois & VanTassel Brothers, for the
tanning of leather. They erected a large tannery just north of
DuBois Avenue. The present Third Ward Hose House stands on this
location. The land occupied by this tannery has been donated by Mr.
John E. DuBois to the City for a public park. This tannery had a
capacity of 1400 sides of leather per day and employed 500 people.
In 1884 a concern by the name of Barber & Scully
located a large sash and door factory and constructed a building for
this purpose. This enterprise lasted for a number of years, when
difficulty came up between Mr. DuBois and this firm and the lumber
contract was discontinued.
By this time the foundation of the city was permanently
laid. As soon as Mr. DuBois could get to it, he built himself a
residence of the architecture of the period, in which residence he
lived until his death on May 6, 1886. This building is still
standing. However, it has been greatly enlarged. Mr. DuBois saw the
necessity of a good hotel. The old office quarters soon became
crowded and he erected a four story building east of the present
Pennsylvania Railroad Station. The first floor on the west side of
this building was occupied by his store. The second floor was used
for his offices. The north side, including the first and part of the
second and third and fourth floors, were used for hotel purposes.
The building has since been removed.
The store quarters and office quarters having become
crowded, about 1884, Mr. DuBois erected a very large store and
office building in the vicinity of his present office. This building
was about 61 feet wide by 140 feet long and 8o feet high. It was
constructed of timber on the lines of the present skyscraper. In
place of steel being used, white pine posts 8o feet long for the
support of the building were erected. The entire building was cased
with brick and the third and fourth floors were used for an Opera
House.
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