The Allenwood School

 

The Allenwood High School opened in September of 1910,
 "with a large enrollment", according to the Lewisburg Journal.

"The Allenwood school was later graded to include a grammar department, which had a good library by 1898.  In 1909 graduation exercises were held, and a year later a township high school was opened"  -  A Bicentennial History by Charles Snyder

The Allenwood School closed June 1958 and was torn down in 1965.

The Allenwood Train Station

The Allenwood Train Station

Located at 80 Railroad Street, Allenwood Pa

The station, built in 1867,  still stands today.

 According to the Lewisburg Journal in 1900, Allenwood Station was so named while the town itself was still known as Uniontown.  The station still stands today, now privately owned.

"When the Reading railroad was built, the company, finding him [Herman Piatt Allen] the leading citizen of the town, determined to name the station Allenwood, and the Post Office Department at Washington soon followed suit and changed the name of the post office from Uniontown to Allenwood."

The Lewisburg Journal, February 9th 1900

A 2011 history of Uniontown states that the station was first known as Cairo, and that the town was at one time named Slifer, as well.

Mrs. Anthony Armstrong Enveloped in Blazing Oil, 1909

In 1909, Mrs Kate [Griffey Armstrong] fell through the attic floor of Armstrong's store, while retrieving boards for a customer.  The oil lamp she had been carrying exploded, catching her clothing on fire.  The panicked woman ran outside, screaming for help, as her clothing was completely consumed by flames.  She died the early the next morning.

Anthony Armstrong, in front of his store in Allenwood

Anthony Armstrong was born in Milton on August 17 1852.  At the age of 15 [1867], he went  to Allenwood, where he was employed in the store of his brother in law, H.B. Allen.   In 1881 Andrew married Katherine Griffey, daughter of Benjamin Griffey who operated the woolen mills in White Deer.  [Note - Helen Fairchild later lived in Griffey's Millinery Mansion, the same home where Kate would have once lived,]

Mr. & Mrs Anthony Armstrong  operated a mercantile store in the location that had been Arbuckle's store, just south of Allens store.  Anthony was elected postmaster on two different occasions.

On June 25, 1908, Armstrong's store was robbed

In February of 1909, Anthony was in Lewisburg, where he stopped in at the newspaper office to comment on the Industrial boom coming to Allenwood, "in the shape of a factory for manufacturing a new steam valve"

Mr & Mrs Armstrong attended the races at Brook Park in late September 1909

On November 2 1909, in the afternoon, Mrs. Armstrong was tending the store, when W. A. Norton, who was building a coal house, came in for supplies.  

Mrs. Armstrong went to the attic to retrieve some boards, carrying a lighted lamp in her hand.  "while stepping from joist to joist over a part of the attic that was not covered with a floor, she made a misstep and fell through the plastered ceiling to the room below, a distance of eight or nine feet.  "

The fall caused the oil lamp she had been carrying to explode. The blazing oil splattered the woman's clothing, and the carpeting, "and in an instant she was a mass of seething flames from head to foot."

Mr. Norton ran to her aid, but before he could find anything to smother the flames, Mrs. Armstrong ran out into the yard, screaming for help.  Dr Traux of Wasontown was passing the Armstrong home at the time, and he quickly ran to extinguish the flames.

The clothing was entirely burned from her body, with the exception of her shoes.  She was badly burned from head to ankles.  Dr Persing of Allenwood, and two additional physicians, did all they could to relieve her suffering, but they were unable to save her life.  

She died at 3am on Wednesday morning, roughly 12 hours after the accident had occurred.

The flames in the building were extinguished before they did too much damage. 

Kate [Griffey] Armstrong was "aged about 55 years" at the time of her death.  She was survived by her husband, a daughter, and two sons.

Anthony Armstrong remarried on October 11 1911, to Jeanette "Janet" Foresman.  Anthony dropped dead of a heart attack on the porch of his store in 1924, at the age of 71.

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For More Stories & History From Allenwood Pa

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/allenwood-pennsylvania.html

For More Stories & Histories from Local Towns:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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November 1909

February 1924

1956

Allenwood Citizens Band

Allenwood Citizens Band

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 Recently  I was given access to a collection of old band photos.  Rather than stick them in a folder for later, I'm going to put them all online quickly, and then I can come back and fill in the histories at a later date.

Find the Index Of Band Photos Here
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/11/bands-in-susquehanna-valley.html

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A Living Memorial To Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice, Watsontown PA

At the entrance to Watsontown Park, surrounded by a circle of trees, is a monument.  It reads: "Dogwood trees planted year 1949 as a living memorial to those who made the supreme sacrifice".  On the monument are the name of 4 who gave their lives in service in World War I, and 15 who died in World War II.

The Dead Gamers Camp, in Allenwood Pa

 

Each year, the Dead Gamers Association , a fraternal organization based out of Lancaster, would load up several train cars with supplies, then travel to a location to set up camp for a week or two. Their elaborate camps included a full orchestra, which gave concerts each night, "one of the best kitchens in the state", and even a barbers tent.

Photos of the campers show them posing for humorous photos, even wearing fake noses, and generally being silly.

In 1906, 1908, and 1909,   the Dead Gamers chose the town of Allenwood as their destination.  Guests were welcome, and according to local papers, a large group from Milton visited the camp in 1908. 

The Dead Gamers Camp was located in Allenwood, "the grove where the tents will be pitched is delightfully situated at the junction of White Deer Hole Creek and the Susquehanna River.  It is about two acres in extent ,and is covered with a virgin forest of black oaks, while fine species of the birch, laurel, and shell bark families abound.  The fishing is excellent within this vicinity.  The equipment of the club is very complete, consisting of ten sleeping tents, music tent 32x34; dining, cooking, commissary, tonosorial [Barber] and lavatory tents, and on the staff of each tent is a fine flag, while two specimens of Old Glory are suspended from ropes fastened to the trees."

For the 1909 outing to Allenwood, the club purchased a number of 15 foot paper balloons, and a considerable number of fireworks. The Dead Gamers Orchestra held a concert each day.

The 1908 camping trip was scheduled to last 10 days, in Allenwood.  Plans included a trip to Williamsport "try to cheer the Red Roses [baseball team] on to victory." the association took three musicians, a pianist, a violinist, and a cornetist, in addition to the associations drum corps.

"The campers are never at a loss for sport or entertainment. In the river pike, pickerel and bass abound, while the surrounding forest contains game for the hunters. There Is an abundance of clever talent among the members. Their own orchestra, led by Prof. Shaberg, give daily concerts, while others in the party provide amusement with clever dramatic talent. ...

"A mock trial was held on Monday, and every attention was paid to detail, with judge, jury, attorneys, etc. A touch of realism was imparted by the presence of Deputy Sheriff Stumpf, who filled his accustomed role without the need of a rehearsal. Howard Boyd and Ben Frailey were sentenced to be thrown into the creek and the sentence was carried out. Time passes in a round of pleasure for the Dead Gamers, who will be loth to depart from their camp when the time arrives to strike tents." - Lancaster Era, Aug 1909

In 1908, a number of Miltonians visited the Dead Gamers Camp.

A 1908 letter describing the camp in Allenwood said: 

"there are about 10 large A tents, containing 6 cots each; the mess tent has a seating capacity of 50 persons; the concert tent is fitting up with a sweet toned piano, wood floor, and camp stools; besides the aboce Old Glory is everywhere; at night the camp is lighted with gas lamps."

"They occupy fifteen large tens and their equipment compromises absolutely everything that could contribute to their comfort.  The Dead Gamers are famous for their cordial hospitality and visitors to their retreat are simply showered with kindness"

The Lancaster New Era, Aug 1909

About 1911, the club purchased 13 acres near Safe Harbor, as their new camp.  The club had been camping annually for 12 years, at locations in Lancaster, Perry, Union, and Bedford Counties.

Aug 4, 1909

For more stories and history from the Central Susquehanna Valley 

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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In 1903 the club camped in Blain, Perry County
In 1905 the camp was held at "a desirable point on Chesapeake Bay, below Perryville a short distance"

In 1907 the club camped at Point Lookout, along the Lancaster, Oxford, and Southern Railroad.

In 1906, 1908, and 1909, the camp was in Allenwood Pa

1906

About 1911, the club purchased 13 acres near Safe Harbor, as their new camp.  The club had been camping annually for 12 years, at locations in Lancaster, Perry, Union, and Bedford Counties.

In March of 1902, The Dead Gamers Club threw a "house-warming dinner and smoker" in their new headquarters.  According to the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, the club was an offshoot of the Old Dead Gamers Camping Association, but was a distinct organization.  It's new rooms were on the third floor of No. 5 South Queen Street, and they had been "done up in a fine style".

At the 1902 party, the Iroquois Band, under Prof. Ad Stork, was on hand for the party.

The club serenaded Mr & Mrs Fralick at their wedding ceremony in October of 1914.  "The Dead Gamers crack fiddlers rendered some fine music."

When Three Unmasked Bandits Robbed The Exchange & Allenwood Banks, To Pay A Traffic Fine

On October 30 1931, three unmasked bandits robbed the Exchange Bank in  Montour County 

The Morning News , (Danville, Pennsylvania), 

30 Oct 1931, Fri • Page 1

In 1931, Luther Shook was in an automobile accident, which  broke two traffic light stands in Williamsport Pa.  He was arrested and fined $82, but the police allowed him to go home and find the money - giving him a few hours to do so.   Luther went home, but  he didn't have $82.  So he went to his father for advice.

And his father suggested they rob a bank.

At trial in April of 1932, Reuben, Luther's father,  admitted that he and his neighbor, John Krause, often discussed robbing the Exchange Bank.  Krouse's plan was to to to Wilkes Barre to get a "safe-cracker" he knew to help dynamite the safe.  Reuben, who spent three months the previous year, in prison for violation of the Volstead Act [Prohibition] said that Krouse was "always planning to get easy money."

Krouse was already in the Penitentiary at the time, convicted of stealing 31 tires from gas stations in Williamsport.  Reuben Shook was arrested for the same crime, but after confessing, had been released.

John Maley however, son of the well known Williamsport baseball player,  was at the Shook residence at the time, and he agreed to be the getaway driver, according to the Shooks.  Maley would later insist he only knew that they were "going to Exchange to get money", not that they were planning to rob a bank.

"Rather than see my boy go to jail,'' Reuben explained, at his sentencing trial, "I suggested that we go to Exchange and take a chance on the bank. Krouse was away from home Maley was at our place and heard the conversation. We asked him to drive the car. At first he refused and then agreed. 

"We failed the first time we arrived at the bank. When we got there I lost my nerve. We drove past the bank for a half mile and then turned around and came back. "I got up courage and we stopped in front of the bank.  

"As I entered the building I did not know whether to I run or stick him up. I pulled out my gun. While he (indicating his son) tied Dennin I gathered up the money." Shook explained.   

 According to Reuben, Maley was supposed to go into the bank with him, and Luther was supposed to stay in the car.  But Maley lost his nerve, so Luther went inside with his father.

As it often appears that Luther and Reuben did not get their stories quite straight before testifying, Luther told how he had placed two pieces of clothes line rope in his pocket before leaving home which he used to bind Dennin.

But in a rare moment where the stories aligned, both  Rueben & Luther denied that they had threatened to drill hole in Dennin. 

Dennin had a slightly different memory of the events.

Dennen recalled the two men entering  the bank, both unmasked, and both pointing revolvers in his direction.  "Stick them up!" was their terse order.  

"[Dennen] said he raised his hands but evidently not high enough to suit the bandits and Luther Shook remarked "Stick 'em up or I'll drill a hole in you." He told how the young Shook tied his hands and then forced him to lie on the floor with his face turned away from them while they bound his feet. He said during the process he moved slightly and one of the me again said, "If he don't lay still, drill a hole in him, then he'll be quiet." H admitted that lie did not see Maley who remained in the car during the robbery. "

The robbers then looted the cash drawer and vault.  The exact amount taken was not disclosed, but was thought to be around $1,100.  A small safe within the vault of the bank was on a timer, and that device saved the bank $1,000, as it could not be accessed.

Not the actual get away car, but an example of a 1930 Oakland Sedan

 In fleeing from the bank Reuben said Maley drove 55 and 60  miles an hour. "I became nervous and asked to drive after several miles. I told him I knew the roads better. I cut, the speed to 40 or 45 miles an hour," Shook said. 

An hour and a half after the robbery, Luther's fine was paid in full.  The Shooks testified that they used the rest of their share of the money to pay bills, life insurance premiums, and to purchase a second hand car.

John Maley's share was $200.  He sold it for $140 to Samuel Fischer of Montoursville,  of who took it to New York to launder it.

A month later, on Thanksgiving day, Luther Shook, age 20, married a 16 year old girl.  

And then on February 8th, 1932, the father and son  team robbed another bank.

This time, Maley was "unavailable" to help, out, so Floyd Hoover took his place.   Hoover said he and the two Shooks drank some liquor before the Allenwood robbery, and that him and Reuben were quite intoxicated, but that Luther did not drink much, because he would be driving the car for the getaway.

When they arrived at the Allenwood bank, Luther remained in the car, and Floyd Hoover went into the bank.  Hoover and Reuben Shook wore colored glasses to disguise themselves, this time.. Once inside, Hoover herded Harold Naber and Mrs Edna Sholtz, the bookkeeper, into the vault.  He then fired a shot which hit the safe doo.  The men grabbed  $1540, and fled. 

As they sped away from the scene in Allenwood, they were followed by Fred Ungard, the postmaster at Allenwood.  He followed them through Dewart, all the way to Blue Ball, and as the robbers thought the car was gaining on them, Reuben got out on the running board and waved a pistol.  Ungard gave up the chase.

The men then abandoned the car they used at the Weaver garage in Oragneville.  Mr Weaver, the garage owner, reported that he had gone home for the night when he heard a car pull up to the garage.  He thought they wanted gas and started to put his coat on to go back to the garage, when another car pulled up.  He saw three men get out of the first car, and get into the second car, which was occupied by two women. Weaver went out to inspect the abandoned car, finding the tags missing, the engine number obliterated, and the car covered in mud and dirt. 

The Trial & Sentencing

The men were caught because they abandoned the car at Weavers garage in Orangeville.  Although they had removed the plates and "erased" the registration number, the authorities later received a tip that helped them to trace the cars owner.

Each of the four men were picked up at their homes one by one.  Although they all denied their guilt at first, they later made full confessions "with little trouble."

 The men  admitted that they were planning to rob the banks at Picture Rocks and Laporte, next.

Only $20 of the more than $2600 obtained from the two banks remained.  It was an old $20 bill, issued by a bank in Los Angeles California.  It's type was no longer in circulation, and the bandits knew that, so they did not spend it.

In their confession, the men said they traveled back roads through the Muncy Hills to the Shook homes after each robbery, and then traveled to New York City a few days later to exchange their currency.

At the time of sentencing, Reuben Shook was 40 years old, Luther was 20.
"The latter left behind a 16 year old bride of four months who sat in the courtroom and wept when the sentence was pronounced."

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For More Stories & History Of Allenwood:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/12/allenwood-pennsylvania.html

For More Stories & Histories from Local Towns:

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Reuben Shook, who was partially deaf, had trouble hearing the questions in court, his son would repeat them to him.  Reuben testified that it was his suggestion that they rob the bank. He  testified that Luther Shook was his only child, and that his wife was still living. He was employed by Neyhards Hardware Company, Williamsport Pa

Reuben was in jail March 1-June 3 1930, for violation of the Volstead Act [Prohibition].

Luther Shook is arrested again in 1940. He was sentenced 10-20 years for the Exchange Bank Robbery, but was released on parole in 1938, 7 years after the robbery.  In 1940, he committed another robbery.

Reuben & Luther Shook both applied for parole in 1937. Both were denied. In November of 1938, nearly 7 years into their sentence, they applied again. This time Reuben was denied, but Luther was paroled. Reuben applied again Oct 1938, and June 1939, and "Early" 1940. He was denied each time.

Luther returned to prison in January of 1940, just over a year after being paroled. He, along with two other men,  was charged with a burglary of a private home in South Williamsport , and was sentenced to 18 months.

Ruben applied for parole again in 1940, stating that he had been a poisoner of good conduct, had operated a prison barber shop for the past three years, and had saved all of his earnings. His application stated that if he was paroled, he would have employment and live with his brother, J.W. Shook, in Bellefonte. Reuben was granted parole in 1942. In 1949 his sentence was commuted.

Floyd Hoover, age 21, of Newberry was sentenced to 7-14 years in the Eastern State Pennitentiary, and a $1,000 fine. He was married shortly before his sentencing.  In the 1940 Census, Floyd Hoover was listed as an Auto Mechanic, living in Williamsport with his wife. He was apparently out on parole, as the Daily ITem reported that he was refused a pardon in July of that year.

This was the 3rd robbery attempt at this bank [exchange] in 8 years, and the only successful effort. Seven years earlier bandits had broken in through a coal window, and again through a door, and in both cases they dynomited the lock on the vault, but they could not gain access.

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

2 Nov 1931, Mon • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

16 Nov 1931, Mon • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

20 Nov 1931, Fri • Page 3

Shamokin News-Dispatch 

(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)

8 Feb 1932, Mon • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

9 Feb 1932, Tue • Page 1

 A July 26 1932 article in the Morning News tells us that the assets were bought by the Watsontown National Bank.  It says that the Allenwood bank was established in the "horse and buggy days, when it was practically necessary in order to carry on business of the community to have a bank near the center of the community."

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

10 Feb 1932, Wed • Page 1

Two women are linked to the Allenwood & Exchange Robberies. Two women picked up the men after they hid the car in Orangeville.  Fred Ungard, the postmaster and Allenwood merchant followed the bandits as far as Blue Ball where he grave up the chase. One of the men had fired a gun at him.

Shamokin News-Dispatch 

(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)

11 Feb 1932, Thu • Page 2

The Allenwood Bank robbery & Exchange Bank Robbery are believed to be committed by the same bandits. (and they were correct - the Shooks were the primaries in both)

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

11 Feb 1932, Thu • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

19 Feb 1932, Fri • Page 1

The Wilkes-Barre Record 

(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)

6 Apr 1932, Wed • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

7 Apr 1932, Thu • Page 1

.

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

9 Apr 1932, Sat • Page 1

Note - "Dark Moleskin pants"appear,from a google search,to be what we think of as Docker style pants.  "Red Mackinaw" is what we refer to as "Woolrich Plaid" - the typical red and black plaid.

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

13 Apr 1932, Wed • Page 1 & 6

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

15 Apr 1932, Fri • Page 1

Shamokin News-Dispatch 

(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)

21 Apr 1932, Thu • Page 1

The Morning News 

(Danville, Pennsylvania)

22 Jan 1940, Mon • Page 1

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Reuben Henry Shook was the son of Henry H. & Mary Anna Shook.  He was the grandson of Jacob & Mary Snyder Shook.

He married Mabel Weller.

He died on May 2 1980 in Florida, age 87.

Luther Delay Shook was born December 8 1912 to parents Reuben Henry & Mabel (Weller) Shook.

In 1925 he lived at 1525 High St, Williamsport Pa

He married a 16 year old girl in 1931.

He was listed as divorced in 1940, when he was in the Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

Luther Died December 12 1967 and is buried in Lycoming County Pa.

Then they made their escape in an Oakland Sedan,  heading towards Turbotville.  They were later spotted in Comley (just north of Turbotville), where they forced another car off the road, apparently headed towards Jerseytown.

More than 40 state police  officers and highway patrolmen were quickly summoned, but their thorough search of the area found no signs of the bandits. Descriptions of the men were sent throughout the valley, and numerous, conflicting, tips came in.

Two men were arrested in Tioga County, they were similar in description to the robbers, and were driving a blue oakland sedan, similar to the one used in the robbery.  James Dennen, the cashier who was bound during the robbery, could not identify the men, so they were released.

When the Wilkes Barre Bank robbers were caught, James Brennen, and a cashier from the Allenwood bank that was also robbed, went to Wilkes Barre to see if they were the same bandits that robbed them, but again, they were not the same bandits.