DuBois in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
From Theater in 1902 to Senior Citizen Housing in 1982
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 25, 2025
1. From Theater in 1902 to Senior Citizen Housing in 1982 Marker
Inscription.
From Theater in 1902 to Senior Citizen Housing in 1982. .
A. P. Way, "Mr. Theater". "Mr. Theater", humanitarian, philanthropist, industrialist, member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, husband and father, A. P. Way (right [photo]) was born in Curwensville July 26, 1868, the eldest of four children. Hard-working, by the age of twenty he became Curwensville's youngest merchant. It was his interest in theater that [would] become his lifelong career when he leased the Academy of Music in Curwensville in 1895. By 1899 Way leased the Fuller Opera House in DuBois, a former church on East Long Avenue which had been converted into a theater. When the building was repossessed from its owner, DuBois was without a theater from 1901 to 1902. In the spring of 1902, the partnership of Patton and Way was formed and construction was begun on a new opera house, known as the Avenue Theater., Way dominated theater in this area, including the Marlin Opera House and the Belvedere House in Brookville and the Jefferson Theater in Punxsutawney. Way developed the Central Pennsylvania Circuit to book acts for his own theaters and those in several other towns in the area. In later years, he took over the operation of other DuBois theaters including the Carlton on West Long Avenue, the Elks on Brady Street and the Pershing on Brady Street before it was renamed the Playhouse., Married to Sara E. Drucker of Lock Haven on May 18, 1902, they became the parents of two sons, Albert and Marlin. Active in many community affairs he is remembered for promoting sports for youth and the Little League Way Field was named in his honor. He served on the board of directors of the DuBois Fair Grounds Association when DuBois was a member of the Interstate Baseball League. Identified with a number of enterprises in DuBois for more than 65 years, Way died April 24, 1962, at the age of 93., Well received by the community, "The Messenger Boy", a musical comedy was the first production presented at the newly constructed opera house, known as the Avenue Theater (left [photo]), on September 29, 1902., A. P. Way had the honor of throwing the first shovel of dirt from the construction site on May 5, 1902, after a contract was awarded by Way and his partner, Charles Patton, to A. D. Orner, a well-known DuBois builder. The contract called for a building 80 feet high, measuring 60 by 200 feet; with a stage 30 by 60 feet; and a curtain 34 feet long and 30 feet high. Modern in every way, the Avenue Theater had parquet floors, a seating capacity of about thirteen hundred, with box seats in addition to that number. There were parlors for the ladies, smoking rooms for the men and toilet rooms. The decorations, furnishings, and scenery were to be "as near fire-proof as possible"., Ticket prices were adjusted by seating, with the second level at a lesser price than the first, and the third level, the cheapest, known as "peanut heaven" where younger groups of attendees threw peanuts down on the audiences below., One of the finest theaters in the state, it provided a show-case for hundreds of Broadway productions. In the 1920s, opera gave way to vaudeville, followed by silent films and later sound pictures. Over the years, thousands were entertained within its walls, some remembering the long lines running both directions on Long Avenue during the days when the Avenue Theater was showing a special movie., After more than 75 years of providing entertainment, television took its toll on the theater industry. Closed for two years, on April 7, 1980, the final curtain came down on the Avenue Theater when demolition began to make way for a redevelopment project.,
Saint Michael Terrace, 111 West Long Avenue. In 1973 a master plan for the development of downtown DuBois included an idea for a second high rise. Gateway Towers was the first in 1971. Many repeated efforts failed to resolve the pressing need for additional housing for senior citizens in the DuBois area. Then DuBois Mayor Mark Vrahas and others formed the new non-profit Council of Human Dignity of DuBois. The Rev. J. Daniel Dymski, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in DuBois, served as the first board chairman of the new non-profit., At a meeting of April 15, 1978, the corporation applied to F.M.H.A., Sec. 515 Rural Rental Program for financing appoximately $4,000,000 to construct a housing facility containing 125 units., In August 1979 the Appalachian Regional Commission Site Grant awarded a $300,000 grant, and a second high rise would become a reality. Building plans accelerated. The DuBois Housing Authority, directed by Mr. Frank Minetti, agreed to manage the new high rise., On March 29, 1980, a $71,500 grant from the State Department of Community Affairs was presented to Father Dymski. Final approval for 102 units was given October 7, 1980, and construction began October 13, 1980., With plans underway, the building would be the first new structure of the redevelopment of downtown DuBois. The architect chose large chocolate brown face brick for the imposing six-story facility. The new facility became known as St. Michael Terrace and the complex contained 100 one-bedroom apartments and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The seven-level structure was designed using fire-resistant masonry and concrete, complying with all national and local codes., The location of St. Michael Terrace was made possible by demolishing the Turner Building, the Avenue Theater, the Callahan Building, the Moore Building and the Swift Kennedy Building from February 23, 1980, to April 8, 1980. The Terrace was completed at a cost of over $4,000,000. Dedication was held on January 31, 1982. The first residents moved in on February 15, 1982. It is currently under the management of the Glowacki Management Company.
A. P. Way, "Mr. Theater"
"Mr. Theater", humanitarian, philanthropist, industrialist, member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, husband and father, A. P. Way (right [photo]) was born in Curwensville July 26, 1868, the eldest of four children. Hard-working, by the age of twenty he became Curwensville's youngest merchant. It was his interest in theater that [would] become his lifelong career when he leased the Academy of Music in Curwensville in 1895. By 1899 Way leased the Fuller Opera House in DuBois, a former church on East Long Avenue which had been converted into a theater. When the building was repossessed from its owner, DuBois was without a theater from 1901 to 1902. In the spring of 1902, the partnership of Patton and Way was formed and construction was begun on a new opera house, known as the Avenue Theater.
Way dominated theater in this area, including the Marlin Opera House and the Belvedere House in Brookville and the Jefferson Theater in Punxsutawney. Way developed the Central Pennsylvania Circuit to book acts for his own theaters and those in several other towns in the area. In later years, he took over
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the operation of other DuBois theaters including the Carlton on West Long Avenue, the Elks on Brady Street and the Pershing on Brady Street before it was renamed the Playhouse.
Married to Sara E. Drucker of Lock Haven on May 18, 1902, they became the parents of two sons, Albert and Marlin. Active in many community affairs he is remembered for promoting sports for youth and the Little League Way Field was named in his honor. He served on the board of directors of the DuBois Fair Grounds Association when DuBois was a member of the Interstate Baseball League. Identified with a number of enterprises in DuBois for more than 65 years, Way died April 24, 1962, at the age of 93.
Well received by the community, "The Messenger Boy", a musical comedy was the first production presented at the newly constructed opera house, known as the Avenue Theater (left [photo]), on September 29, 1902.
A. P. Way had the honor of throwing the first shovel of dirt from the construction site on May 5, 1902, after a contract was awarded by Way and his partner, Charles Patton, to A. D. Orner, a well-known DuBois builder. The contract called for a building 80 feet
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 25, 2025
2. Saint Michael Terrace and Marker
high, measuring 60 by 200 feet; with a stage 30 by 60 feet; and a curtain 34 feet long and 30 feet high. Modern in every way, the Avenue Theater had parquet floors, a seating capacity of about thirteen hundred, with box seats in addition to that number. There were parlors for the ladies, smoking rooms for the men and toilet rooms. The decorations, furnishings, and scenery were to be "as near fire-proof as possible".
Ticket prices were adjusted by seating, with the second level at a lesser price than the first, and the third level, the cheapest, known as "peanut heaven" where younger groups of attendees threw peanuts down on the audiences below.
One of the finest theaters in the state, it provided a show-case for hundreds of Broadway productions. In the 1920s, opera gave way to vaudeville, followed by silent films and later sound pictures. Over the years, thousands were entertained within its walls, some remembering the long lines running both directions on Long Avenue during the days when the Avenue Theater was showing a special movie.
After more than 75 years of providing entertainment, television took its toll on the theater industry. Closed for two years, on April 7, 1980, the final curtain came down on the Avenue Theater when demolition began to make way for a redevelopment project.
Saint Michael Terrace, 111 West Long Avenue
In 1973 a master plan for the development of downtown DuBois included an idea for a second high rise. Gateway Towers was the first in 1971. Many repeated efforts failed to resolve the pressing need for additional housing for senior citizens in the DuBois area. Then DuBois Mayor Mark Vrahas and others formed the new non-profit Council of Human Dignity of DuBois. The Rev. J. Daniel Dymski, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in DuBois, served as the first board chairman of the new non-profit.
At a meeting of April 15, 1978, the corporation applied to F.M.H.A., Sec. 515 Rural Rental Program for financing appoximately $4,000,000 to construct a housing facility containing 125 units.
In August 1979 the Appalachian Regional Commission Site Grant awarded a $300,000 grant, and a second high rise would become a reality. Building plans accelerated. The DuBois Housing Authority, directed by Mr. Frank Minetti, agreed to manage the new high rise.
On March 29, 1980, a $71,500 grant from the State Department of Community Affairs was presented to Father Dymski. Final approval for 102 units was given October 7, 1980, and construction began October 13, 1980.
With plans underway, the building would be the first new structure of the redevelopment of downtown DuBois. The architect chose large chocolate brown face brick for the imposing
six-story facility. The new facility became known as St. Michael Terrace and the complex contained 100 one-bedroom apartments and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The seven-level
structure was designed using fire-resistant masonry and concrete, complying with all national and local codes.
The location of St. Michael Terrace was made possible by demolishing the Turner Building, the Avenue Theater, the Callahan
Building, the Moore Building and the Swift Kennedy Building from February 23, 1980, to April 8, 1980. The Terrace was completed
at a cost of over $4,000,000. Dedication was held on January 31, 1982. The first residents moved in on February 15, 1982. It is currently under the management of the Glowacki Management Company.
Erected by City of DuBois, Glowacki Management Co., and Visit Clearfield County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1982.
Location. 41° 7.19′ N, 78° 45.833′ W. Marker is in DuBois, Pennsylvania, in Clearfield County. It is at the intersection of Long Avenue and High Street, on the left when traveling west on Long Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 West Long Street, Du Bois PA 15801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
