gardenfork

When the railroad shut down in 1927, the local papers called for action. Three years later, they celebrated.

Everything set for celebration marking Valley Road opening. Dubois business to go on holiday while celebration is on at Weedville and Penfield.

Plans for the celebration that will mark the opening of the new Bennetts Valley Highway on Wednesday afternoon were put upon a completed basis on Monday when committees in charge of the various phases of the celebration held an enthusiastic meeting in this city and gathered up the loose ends of the work they have had under way for the past month.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a survey of the preparations indicated that everything was in readiness for the people of all of the towns from Dubois to Weedville to get together for one big expression of happiness over the completion of the highway that will link them so much more closely together, and mark that event with an afternoon of action that will fittingly reflect the satisfaction of the communities.

For Dubois, as well as the other town involved, it is to be a holiday. Mayor J. I. Pollum has issued a proclamation calling upon the business people of Dubois to close their doors on Wednesday afternoon and join in the big Dubois delegation that will participate in the celebration. In every town along the route the celebration atmosphere has taken hold and preparations are under way to join in the big affair.

Cars will be lined up on South Main Street at 1 o’clock ready to leave at that hour. It is planned for the Dubois delegation to make the trip in a group, meeting citizens of the Bennett’s valley at Penfield, and then proceed to Weedville where the early program will be conducted. The party will later return to Penfield for supper and hear an address delivered by Hon. Gifford Pinshot, Republican gubernatorial candidate.

The B. R. & P. band, the American Legion Drum Corps and the Eagles drill team will be among the organizations to have important parts on the day’s program. Addressed will be delivered by Hon. A. P. Way, State Senator Harry B. Scott, Hon. S. W. Jackson, District highway engineer, Mayor Pollum, Hon. Samual Eckles and James J. Mack as chairman of the program.

A parade will be held through the business district of Dubois and the hundreds of cars will then head for Penfield where they are scheduled to arrive at 1:30. A short parade headed by the B. R. & P. band will be held there at 1:30 and similar reviews will be held at Tyler at 2 and Force at 2:30. The party will arrive at Weedville at 2:45 and proceed immediately to the Weedville ball park where the program will begin at 3 o’clock.

At the conclusion of the program the party will return to Penfield where supper will be served by the ladies of the churches of that place. One of the features of the supper will be the appearance of Hon. Gifford Pinchot who will address the audience with a short address. Mr. Pinchot is scheduled to arrive in Dubois late in the afternoon and will proceed at once to Penfield where he will be met by a representative group of citizens. Following the Penfield meeting he will return to Dubois where he will address an open air meeting to be held at the corner of Long avenue and Brady street at 8 o’clock. The Republican gubernatorial candidate will undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to inspect the fine new route into the big game section east of the city.

Honorable Benson E. Taylor of Brockway, a member of Governor Fisher’s cabinet, will also be a speaker on the evening program and will undoubtedly be heard with a large amount of interest.

16 September 1930, Dubois Morning Courier