|
Page 161
TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER XXXIII
WHEN the foundation of DuBois was laid in 1871 in this
wilderness, little thought was given to connection with the outside
world. The means of communication up to that time was by foot,
horseback, wagons drawn by horses or oxen. It is related that one
citizen of near Luthersburg had been summoned for jury duty. He did
not wish to spend any of his wages as a juror and therefore he
boarded at home. He left his home in the morning and walked more
than 16 miles in time to attend Court and after Court adjourned in
the evening, he walked back to his home for the night.
Traveling was not done. A stage line had been
established on the old pike in an early day and in 1871 a daily mail
route existed between Clearfield and Franklin. The inhabitants in
DuBois had to get their mail either at Luthersburg or Jefferson Line
and the people depended on the kindness of any neighbor who might
get to the Post Office, once a week, who would receive the mail and
distribute it on his way home.
After the building of the railroad in 1871 a mail route
was established between Penfield and Clearfield. A stage line to
carry passengers between those two points had been in existence for
some time. After a Post Office was established in DuBois, mail to
Clearfield went either west as far as Reynoldsville or east as far
as Penfield. It was then carried to Clearfield over the stage lines.
This condition as to mail existed for a number of years. Finally,
however, a mail route was established direct by stage to DuBois,
through to Luthersburg, and Curwensville to Clearfield as well as by
Penfield.
The only business connection between the two towns was
that required by attendance at Court. At these periods a number of
people would hire a hack to drive them to Clearfield.
In 1881 the Brockway and Punxsutawney Railroad Company
applied for a charter for a right of way on Franklin Street and an
ordinance was passed granting this railroad company the right to lay
tracks to the extent of 40 feet on that street, leaving 20 feet for
the people. This road was promptly built and gave a northern outlet
for the mines and lumber interests of DuBois. The road was
immediately built through to Punxsutawney where the terminus
remained for a number of years, and was finally extended to Butler,
giving a Pittsburgh connection.
In 1891 the shipping interests of the B. R. & P.
Railroad became eager to have an eastern outlet and what was known
as the Clearfield & Mahoning Railroad Company obtained a charter
from the State and it built a line from the C. & M. Junction in
Brady Township to Clearfield.
|
