CHARLES WILLIAM ALLEN

"Charley" was the fourth child and third son of Laura Baumgardner and Cornelius "Con" Allen. Born in Houtzdale, PA, he started early honing his musical talent performing in the town musical events.

HOUTZDALE'S BIG DAY - BIG MINSTREL SHOW A VERY PRONOUNCED SUCCESS. The sixth annual minstrel given by local talent was presented to a well filled house on the night of St. Patrick's Day, in the Houtzdale Opera House. The stage setting and decorations in green and white were beautifully arranged, back of which hung the American and Irish flags...The songs and dance, and musical numbers, given by the Allens, Thomas, Ralph, Charles and Edmund, accompanied by their sister Marie, on the piano were well executed and enthusiastically received; they were brought back for several encores. They are well trained and reflect great credit upon their father, Sheriff Allen... (Newspaper & date unknown - from the Con-Laura Allen scrapbook in possession by Barbara Moulthrop Shepard.)

The stage training that he learned early in life served him well because Charley had a most congenial and fun loving nature that continued thru adulthood.

We do not know what schools Charley attended while in Houtzdale or where he was a student when at age ten he moved with his family to Clearfield while his father served as Sheriff of Clearfield County. The family always joked that in these days they grew up in the Clearfied Jail. When the family finally settled in DuBois at the end of December 1909, Charley entered St.Catherine's School (which included grades 1-12), and graduated class of 1914.

In the early years in growing-up in DuBois, Charley and his brothers and sisters were once again engaged in the pursuit of musical excellence. His father Cornelius formed the Holy Names band about 1910 and it provided many opportunities for Charley to blow his trumpet in parades and perform on stage for benefits. In 1912 Charlie and all his brothers traveled to Washington and marched in the inaugural parade for President W. Wilson. Charley was twenty in 1916 when he played the coronet when the Allenfamily gave a two hour musical to benefit the Holy Name Boys' Band at the AvenueTheatre. Charley played his last time with the band in 1917 just before he enlisted in the Army.

FAREWELL CONCERT ON STREET BY THE HOLY NAMES BAND Last evening the Holy Name Band came out on the streets and played ints farewell concert. The concert was heard by a large throng of people all of whom enjoyed it with keen relish, yet with much regret. They regretted the fact that the band will no longer delight them with high class music as most of the boys will be in the service of the government with a short time. The people of DuBois have been proud of this organization from a musical standpoint and they are prouder of the fact that the boys have enlisted in defense of their country. Some of the boys will leave immediately; others are expecting a call within a short time...The band came oul last evening, playing first on State Street, then coming to Long Avenue and serenading many of the business places. The band then went to the Elks Home and later serenaded business places on North Brady Street. (Newspaper and date unknown. Last part of article missing. From Con-Laura Scrapbook.)

Charley played his horn with the Army band and research is needed on his exact dates and location, but the family thinks that he was not sent overseas and that he enjoyed his WWI years playing in military parades and events. He returned from DuBois to help his father in the shoe store.

Charley probably met his bride Emma Lue Herbstritt Smith through mutual friends at a party as both were very prominent in their young social set. She was a lovely girl from Brockway, a small community eleven miles up the road from DuBois, whose father Andrew Herbstritt had died quite young in an accident. Her mother Mandy married George Smith and he adopted Emma Leu.

Charley and Emma Leu always joked that they dated for five years or waited for Charley to accumulate $5,000 dollars before they were married.Which was it?! Charley's father Cornelius was in the hospital in 1924-25 and so the couple had a simple and quiet wedding July 22, 1925 in DuBois, PA.

CHARLES ALLEN AND MISS EMMA LOU SMITH WED. LOCAL BUSINESS MAN AND POPULAR BROCKWAY GIRL MARRIED IN ST. CATHERINES EARLY THIS MORNING. ...The ceremony was performed by Rev. Father M.J. Mackin in the presence of a large company of relatives and friends. The bride was attended by her cousin, Miss Henrietta Lurh, of St. Marys, while Ralph Allen, of Olean, was best man. ...Following the rituals and a round of congratulations, a wedding breakfast was served to a company of sixteen at the Commercial Hotel, and the newly wedded pair left shortly afterward, by motor for a honeymoon of three weeks to be spent in northern and eastern points, after which they will return to DuBois and take up housekeeping in a home already furnished in West Weber Avenue...(DuBois Daily Express, Wednesday, July 22, 1925.)

Charley and Emma Leu decided to start their own shoe busines about 1936. The Con Allen store was not profitable enough for three men to support the family and so Charley opened a store on Long Ave that he called The Charles Shoe Shop. DuBois was growing and the new population easily supported a new store. Charley and his brothers at the Con Store worked out their stock assortment so that they were not competing with each other. They both carried fine shoes and boots in different price ranges. Charley later moved the store up a block to the Damus Building. Emma Leu had a flair for decorating and the store was beautifully appointed and the windows drew attention from all the locals. Out-of town visitors would come specially to see the Christmas windows. Charley worked long hours, 8 a.m to 5 p.m. , six days a week and Emma Leu worked while the children were at school.

In spite of the confining schedule of the shop, Charles participated in many community organizations and events with great enthusiasm and personality. He was president of the Kiwanis Club, the DuBois Retailers Associaition and the DuBois Country Club, and a Past Exalted Ruler of the Benevelent Protective Order of Elks. He served with the Civil Air Defense in Worl War II and was an active member of the DuBois Montgomery Post of the American Legion. He stayed a devout member of St. Catherine's and sang in the choir for many years.

His favorite event of the week was the Sunday golf foursome after 8 o'clock mass with the "Allen boys." But Charlie did not experience the golden years of retirement. Charles was only 64 years old when he died. He had a three year battle with cancer and was quite sick at the end and unable to work. His sisters and brothers made arrangements to take turns to be with him so he would not be alone while Emma Leu was at work. After his death, Emma Leu held the family together. She was faced with medical bills as well as caring for her elderly mother who was living with the family. Jason Gray, a DuBois newspaper man, wrote a special article on Emma Leu.

AN ADMIRABLE WOMAN. We were with a beaming long-time friend recently, shortly after she had received word of the birth of her third great grandchild. It was a real pleasure to watch her reaction. Seldom do we reflect on the personal life of any individual, but in this instance we might make an exception. Emma Lou Allen has been a life-long resident of the DuBois area, active in the community, and has contributed much to worthwhile local affairs, business an otherwise. A strong character, she has never been timid in expressing her personal opinion. One always understands her position on issues. In retail shoe business with her husband Charles for many years, she continued successfully the same endeavors for another 20 years following his death. The many problems encountered in those years failed to overwhelm her. As a diligent hospital volunteer and active in her church, she held the respect and admiration of all with whom she came into contact. Social activities included contributions to club work and the DuBois Country Club. She established many warm personal friendships. Emma Lou, if there is such a thing as a "Grand Dame" in life, would be included among the tops. (The Courier-Express, DuBois, PA, Monday, June 20, 1983.) Emma Leu ran the store until her mother died and then sold the stock specializing in selling orthopedic shoes from her home.

Daughter Pat was well aware of the role the shoe store played in her family's life and how Charles and Emma Leu were the perfect team together. Pat remembers her father, "Everyone liked 'Charley.' His store was a meeting place for friends. He was a loyal friend and a marvelous father. He was fun!!"

Newspaper notes, additions and editing by Jack Jr. & Judy Allen, March 2000, La Jolla, CA. Newspaper clippings from the Con-Laura Allen Scrapbook in possession by Barbara Moulthrop Shepard, Altoona, PA.