John Rumbarger

April 04, 2011

            (From "The Best of Reflections" Book) Although John Rumbarger played a lesser part in the earlier development of DuBois than did John DuBois himself, he still had as important role.  In fact, the city was split into two settlements at one time, the Eastern section with its lumbering operations known as DuBois, and the area around Main and Long, known as Rumbarger.

            Born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1811, he left his native county in 1850 and settled in Kittanning.  He later moved up the Allegheny River after getting in the lumber business, finally getting as far north as Brookville.

            He appeared on the local scene around 1865 after having purchased a large [plot of land from David Heberling and sub-dividing it into 100 lots a few years before John DuBois came here from Williamsport.

            Rumbarger advertised the sale of his lots in glowing phases.  “The town of Rumbarger is beautifully situated on Sandy Creek and on the public road leading from Luthersburg to Brockwayville.  He will sell his Tavern House and also one acre of grounds well situated for a hotel and having the necessary out buildings and stabling attached.  There are several good springs of water attached and those willing to sink wells can obtain water from ten to fifteen feet.  The town is in a healthy part of the country and easy of access from Luthersburg, Salem, West Liberty, Reynoldsville, Rockdale and the Beechwoods settlement.”

            Apparently, not entirely satisfied with the results of his first efforts, he came back shortly thereafter with an advertisement in even more enticing terms.

            “To those unacquainted with Rumbarger we should say it is a beautiful site, not to level or not too hilly, and situated in a healthy location.  The soil is rich and the country is fruitful.  The “low grade” railroad skirts the entire length of the town.  Rumbarger is located in a rich mineral country surrounded by vast forests of timber, and will become a great commercial center and shopping point.”

            The advertisement then went on to describe the great lumbering operations that were scheduled to get underway in the DuBois Mills.

            The advertisement then went on to describe the great lumbering operations that were scheduled to get underway in the DBois Mills.

            The land lying East of Main Street had been cleared up the hill to the southern and eastern lines.  In describing the condition of the land on lower S. Brady Street one surveyor spoke as follows:

“When we were surveying the road through that swamp we had to wear high rubber boots and jump from one log to another to get through.”

            Timber roads had been constructed for the hauling of square timber from property of farmers to be landed on the banks of Sandy Creek.

            One of these roads extended to S. Main Street and another to the intersection of Brady and Dixon Avenue to the east side of Pentz Run.  A part of this road later became Jared Street.  On the South side of W. Long Avenue was the Heberling Saw Mill Dam.  The pond was built with cribbing across the valley, and the area had not been entirely cleared.  The white pine had been cut off as had been much of the hemlock, and in appearance a much more forsaken place could not be imagined.

            In the spring of 1879 a forest fire occurred along S. Brady Street, destroying a section of timber and threatening a number of homes located in the area.

            At the time Mr. Rumbarger laid out his lots there was no attention paid to grading, removal of stumps, logs or brush, the lots being bought “as is.”

            South of E. Long Avenue were several large springs coming out of the foot of the hill, and where the Hotel Pershing now stands, there was a stream of water flowing across the road.

            The level was later raised about six feet and tile sewers installed at the time the building was erected.

            At the time the State Highway Department was improving the road in 1930, portions of the old wooden bridge were uncovered five feet below the level of the streets.

            However, when Mr. Rumbarger invited people to buy lots, this was the character of country, and so remained for a number of years.

            The little village of Rumbarger was soon outdistanced by the rapid building on the opposite hill (East Side) adjacent to the lumber mills, and the name DuBois was thereafter recognized for the lumber town first called Swamp Siding.

            We are again indebted to the late W. C. Pentz and his “History of DuBois” for much of the material contained in the above article.

 

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