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September 04, 2002 at 8:31 PM

       Current history will be the topic when George Sonnie is the opening speaker for the 2002-03 year of the DuBois Area Historical Society on September 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the E.D. Reitz Museum, 30 W. Long Ave., DuBois. The program is free and open to the public.

       Sonnie, co-owner of Sunrise Drilling in Sykesville along with Franklin Sonnie, was part of the late July rescue of nine trapped miners from the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County.

       Sunset Drilling is mainly involved with gas well drilling in the immediate area. They were called and asked to supply a large drill bit and some other parts for the drilling rig that was drilling the hole to pump the water out of the mine where the miners were trapped. They also were asked to help with the removal of a stuck drill bit at the site.

       Once they were in Somerset County, the Sonnie’s stayed on the job until the miners were rescued. Sonnie will tell his story of the rescue at the historical society meeting.

       A brief business meeting will proceed the speaker’s presentation on Sept. 19. A list of nominees for officers, directors, and area representatives will be presented, additional nominations taken from the floor, and voting. All DuBois Area Historical Society members with currently paid up memberships may vote.

       The Society’s annual dinner meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the DuBois Senior Center. The guest speaker will be Scott Hangartner of DuBois, who will present, “A History of Bigfoot in Pennsylvania and Around the World.”

       The buffet menu features turkey and ham at a cost of $12. Reservations are due by Oct. 12 and may be sent to the DuBois Area Historical Society Inc., P.O. Box 401, DuBois, Pa. 1580l. Checks should be made payable to the DuBois Area Historical Society.

      The final meeting of 2002 is November 19 and features Louis E. Sewell, Grand Chief of Pennsylvania’s Forty et Eight (veterans of World War I) organization as the speaker. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in the E.D. Reitz Museum.

      The 2003 speakers all at 7:30 p.m. in the Reitz Musuem are:  Feb. 26 – Bill Hand, “Major McCreight, 20^th Century DuBois Leader”; March 13 – Gary Gilmore, “Presettlement  Forests:  What John DuBois Saw”; April 3 – Jeanne Curtis, “Making Pysanky” (Ukranian Easter eggs); and May 30 – Galen Kilmer, “DuBois Area High School Local History Projects.”

       Business memberships for 2002-03 are currently being accepted. Membership levels are:  member, $25; patron, $50; and benefactor, $100. Checks made payable to the DuBois Area Historical Society may be sent to DuBois Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 401, DuBois, Pa. 15801