RALPH JEROME ALLEN

(written in 1994 Ralph the third child of Laura Baumgardner and Cornelius"Con" Allen was born in Houtzdale, PA and baptised at St. Lawrence Church. There is a tintype pictures of Ralph with his father and big brother Tom on stage so it is assumed that his musical career started in babyhood. When Ralph's father was sheriff he attended the Susquehanna College of Music where he played the clarionet in the school orchestra. In an undated news article about the young Allen boys, "HOME TALENT DOES THINGS. BIG AUDIENCE PRESENT AT THE OPERA HOUSE LAST NIGHT TO WITNESS THE PRODUCTION....The four Allens, sons of Sheriff Allen, did some singing and dancing which would have done credit to professionals in that line of work. The boys are graceful, made an exceptionally fine appearance and sang delightfully. They were obliged to respond to a number on encores." Later it is noted in the newspaper review of the Allen family musical of May 5, 1916 that "the family orchestra, composed of Cornelius Allen Sr, Thomas, Ralph, Charles, Edmund and Marie Allen, displayed their ability in the first number, preparing the way for the fine program to follow...One of the finest orchestra numbers on the program was the ŒPoet and Peasant,' played by the family orchestra. The rhyme and technic with which the difficult selction was played earned for the orchestra a storm of applause as a mark of appreciation from the hearers...an overture ŒSouthern Melodies' by the orchestra preceded the buck and wing song and dance by the four Allen brothers. This was one of the leaders on the program, Thomas, Ralph, Charles and Edmund taking part." (DuBois Courier, 5 May 1916, from Con-Laura scrapbook.)

Ralph started his schooling in Houtzdale, PA. He moved with his family to DuBois and graduated St. Catherine's High School with the Class of 1912. After high school he served as an assistant postmaster in the DuBois office.

Of course Ralph played in the Holy Name Boys' Band led by his father and was one of the band members in 1917 that signed up for a Navy band assignment during WWI. Thirty-six young DuBois musicians took the Naval Reserve Test and all were members of the Holy Name Society Band who offered themselves as a unit . He had a wonderful opportunity to play in the band under John Phillip Souza during a parade in Philadelphia. He continued his Navy interest by being a member of American Legion Montgomery Post 17 of DuBois.

After the Navy days, Ralph lived in Olean, NY with his big sister Marie Allen McDermott. Ralph, Marie and her husband Charles McDermott opened a shoe store in Olean that did business from approximately 1924 to 1930 and was known as Allen-McDermott Shoes Boot Shop and was located on North Union Street.

Ralph took as his bride the lovely Aileen Mary Duggan of Olean. It was called one of the "prettiest weddings of the season" and was solemnized at St. Mary of the Angels church, Olean, NY, June 16, 1925. Aileen was the only daughter of M. C. Duggan of North Barry Street who was a prominent citizen of Olean and the President of the Focony Vacuum Oil Co. The brother of the bride The Rev. Dana J. Duggan, Of Niagara Falls, performed and sung the service. Elymra Allen, of DuBois was the maid of honor and Charles Allen of DuBois and Willaim E. Lennon of Olean were the ushers. Leo Duggan, a cousin of the bride from Buffalo, was the bridegroom's attendant. (News article from THe Olean Evening ?, Con-Laura Allen scrapbook.)

Aileen and Ralph returned from their Canadian honeymoon and resided at 307 North Barry Street. Sadly Aileen died giving birth to her namesake Aileen in 1927. Ralph's sister Marie felt she should be the one to raise little Aileen because she had two older girls, Laura Jane and Jean. Baby Aileen went to live with the McDermotts and a new baby was born to Marie and Charles nine months later so little Aileen had a baby sister named Joan. Marie was a wonderful, fun and caring mother and the girls treated Aileen as a sister. They remained good friends and at the 1994 Allen Family Reunion were still calling themselves "the four sisters."

In 1930, Ralph was a passenger in an automobile accident and he lost the sight of his right eye, which plagued him the rest of his life. He settled for $10,000. At this same time Ralph's brother Ed was having a successful tour in the United States and Europe with a popular dance band. The depression was on and in DuBois as elsewhere, businesses were struggling. Ralph and Ed's father Cornelius asked the two men to come home, bring their money and put it into the family shoe store in DuBois to help in the financial survival of the family. The boys were dutiful sons and Ralph returned to take up life once again in DuBois and to became co-owner (with Ed) of the Con Allen Shoe Store in 1932 when Con handed over the business.

Ralph stayed in touch with Aileen on the phone and made the long trips to Olean frequently. She adored him and he was a constant support throughout the rest of his life. They girls all remember his Christmas visits. He would close the store early and fill the car with toys and shoes arriving Christmas morn about 2 a.m. - usually after a stormy journey through snow or brisk weather. In the summertime Aileen would stay in DuBois in the large Con-Laura home with her father and the extended family that lived there. Her Olean sisters oftened joined them. Also Aileen had the support of her Duggan grandfather who treated her to adventurous trips to Canada and New York City.

Along with the shoe business Ralph was interested in community affairs and activities. In 1935 he ran for City Treasurer on the Democratic ticket. He served as a member of the DuBois Retailers Association, the DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce and was executive director of the Bucktail Council Boy Scouts of America, and was active in the Polio Foundation.

In 1941 he was appointed postmaster at the DuBois Post Office, succeeding the late James J. McNany. Shortly afterward his new appointment he married Elosie M. Meisel on June 16, 1942 in St. Mary's, PA. They resided at 602 First Street. Later on they moved to 303 Green Ridge Dr. where Aileen (now a teenager) moved in to attend high school.

Ralph was also a member of St. Catherine's Church, the Holy Name Society, the National Association of Postmaster, Pennsylvania Chapter of Postmasters, The Tri-County Association of Postmasters, and the Bevevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

After thirty years of sevice he retired from the Post Office in 1965. He was remembered in a Du Bois editorial, " Ex-Postmaster Allen has served the citizens of the DuBois area well for nearly a quarter of a century, rendering friendly, courteous and efficient aid at all times. He is to be commended for the excellent record which he has established and carries with him the best wishes of the DuBois community on the occasion of his retirement from active duty."

Ralph continued to enjoy his membership in the DuBois country club. He was a member of the famous Allen foursome that took part in a game of golf after mass every Sunday. He also enjoyed bridge.

Ralph spent his first year of retirement traveling with Eloise to the west coast and visiting with family. During his last year he was ill and died in the DuBois hospital and was given a Requiem mass at St. Catherine's where retired employees of the post office served as honorary pallbearers. He was remembered in an editorial, "Mr. Allen's temperament and personality were such that he gained the respect and friendship of many persons during the 71 years of his fruitful life, and his almost daily appearance in the DuBois business district will be missed by a legion of friends." Ralph's only child Aileen died in Jan, 1997. He has three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

(Newspaper notes, additions and editing by Jack Jr & Judy Allen, March 2000. Newspaper notes from Con-Laura Allen scrapbook in possession by Barbara Moulthop Shepard, Altoona, PA.)