Category List

Archive

October 24, 2008 at 9:52 PM

        The Civil War will be featured when the DuBois Area Historical Society concludes its 2008 activities with its Second Annual Luncheon, Nov. 8, at noon at the Brady Township Community Center in Luthersburg.

        The guest speaker will be Scheldean Jose, performing as Mary Wade. Wade was the mother of Jenny Wade, the only civilian casualty during the Battle of Gettysburg. Jose conducts her program wearing Civil War era clothing that she made herself.

        The menu for the luncheon is:  hot roast beef sandwich, mashed potatoes, green beans, cake, and beverage. The luncheon cost is $9. Reservations are due by Oct. 29 and may be sent to DuBois Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 401, DuBois, Pa. 15801.

        Mary Ann Filby Wade was born in York in 1820. She married James Wade on April 15, 1840. The second of their six children, Mary Virginia, born on May 21, 1843, would become the only civilian killed at Gettysburg.

        Mary Wade and her daughters worked as seamstress to keep their home due to the failing health of James Wade, who was committed as “very insane” to the Adams County Alms House. The three of them were together and baking bread for Union soldiers, when Jennie was struck and killed by a bullet that traveled through two wooden doors. Later in life, Mary Wade, would receive a pension from the U.S. government because of the death of her daughter.

        It is from this framework that Jose has built a program that will transport those attending the luncheon back to a turbulent time in U.S. history.

        This will conclude the 2008 programs of the DuBois Area Historical Society. Over 175 people attended the First Spirit of DuBois Lantern Walk on Oct. 18. Programs will continue in 2009 with the annual dinner in February.