Who Knew? The spirit of kindness, Pt. 3

Thanks to a visitor from New Jersey, this series began with the "DeHuff House," home to the Lebanon Rescue Mission's "Agape Shelter." The first family to enjoy it since 1870 was Lyman and Louisa Nutting ( see part 2 ), followed by A. Gilbert and Emma DeHuff in 1887 ( part 1 ).

The series has grown legs, if not wings, as contributions from other readers continue to breathe life into the story. One woman remembers living in the "Nutting House" at 239 Chestnut Street as a young girl in one of the upstairs apartments (c.1950), after the house left the Nutting family. Any further insights or comments from readers are most welcome.

Settle in for (a lot) more on the DeHuffs; in this installment the story of Jacob DeHuff, brother of A. Gilbert DeHuff who was featured in part 1. This series ends next time in part 4 with the father, Henry DeHuff. Telling the stories of all of Henry's 14 children would not make interesting reading, but Jacob is an exception.

Jacob DeHuff (1836-1908)

Born and raised in Lebanon, the oldest son of Henry's second marriage to Margaret Arndt, Jacob is best known for serving Lebanon as proprietor of DeHuff & Mitchell's bookstore at 828 Cumberland Street (presently occupied by H&R Block).

Jacob Arndt DeHuff began, teaching school for several years, then around 1860 became a bank teller for 18 years at First National Bank. By 1878 he had left and gone into business with Robert Mitchell. They remained partners for five years until Mitchell went into the coal business down the block at 773 Cumberland Street.

For years the store was an important part of downtown commerce, as one advertisement says for "books, stationary, and fancy goods," not just for the holidays but also where children purchased their schoolbooks.

When Mitchell left the business DeHuff moved next door to 824 Cumberland Street. Notice the delightful book-shaped sign post at the curb, "J. A. DeHuff Books and Stationery."

Furthermore, Jacob DeHuff's store was the local newspaper agency and purveyor of tickets for performances at the nearby Fisher's Opera House at 701 Cumberland.

Tickets for shows like Gilbert & Sullivan's "H. M. S. Pinafore" in 1882, were reserved by consulting the seating diagram at DeHuff's store. He advertised his wares, such as "elegant valentines" in the opera house playbill.

When the circus came to town for one day in 1885, stopping on the way from Harrisburg to Reading, DeHuff's store had pre-sales of tickets for those not wanting to wait in line. The newspaper sang its praises as the biggest and grandest ever had, a true three-ring circus with a half-mile hippodrome track. Featured were Jumbo the $200,000 white elephant, Jo-Jo the Russian dog-faced boy, and a "Hindoo" snake charmer. The event was heralded as "nine shows in one," kicked off by a parade into town at 8 a.m. and shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Barnum, ever the showman and promoter, sadly lamented in the advertisement that this was everyone's "last chance" to see the show before it left America for Europe.

The same paper reported on the following day that it had been a successful event, excepting the seven drunks who had been rounded up into the police station house. Three paid their fines, the rest "went up" for 48 hours.

Jacob had also managed the ticket sales in 1878 for a concert at the Lebanon County Court House by famous cornet soloist Matthew Arbuckle. He came from Philadelphia's Academy of Music and New York's Brooklyn Tabernacle and mustered with the Massachusetts's 24th regiment band in the Civil War.

DeHuff's was not the only bookstore in Lebanon, two others where D. P. Witmeyer's on South 8th Street and J. Laudermilch a block away on 779 Cumberland. On occasion, local merchants collaborated, agreeing to setting store hours for the convenience of Lebanon's citizenry.

Older residents of Lebanon, who may recall its Five and Dime store, J. G. McCrory's, may NOT know that the store took over DeHuff's original building. The York-based chain, which started in the 1880s, was planning its Lebanon debut in 1901. "McCrory's" chain finally went out of business in 2002.

Jacob seemed to enjoy the latest developments in entertainment. In 1877, about the same time he was going into business with his bookstore, he made news for his purchase of a parlor organ.

A traveling salesman, the brother of Daniel F. Beatty from Washington, New Jersey, had put on a demonstration of "Beatty's Parlor Organ" in the square by the courthouse. He drew quite a crowd, and made three sales, one to Jacob DeHuff.

Jacob enjoyed entertaining in his home. On several occasions he hosted a "graphophone" concert, having folks over to listen to recorded music.

At one such event, he moved to the "Sons of America" Hall to accommodate a larger audience. In addition to recorded music, the concert featured singing and playing by live performers. Hosted by his Bible class, admission was 10 cents, and they served a supper of oysters ("hot, cold, steamed and fried"), cakes, and candies.

The Sons of America Hall on the 700 block of Cumberland Street was destroyed by fire in the 1900s. The former Lebanon campus of HACC, now Lebanon City Hall, stands on the site today. Jacob was a stockholder and officer of the association that built the hall in 1889.

Technology of a more serious nature intrigued him as well. In 1891 the Fottrell Insulated Wire Company of Philadelphia was chartered. The company had been organized by leaders in Lebanon, including Lyman Nutting and Jacob DeHuff.

The properties of the wire insulation had been tested in "an old hay shed near the electric light plant" and found satisfactory. They had tried to secure land for the plant in Lebanon near the Lebanon Valley Railroad and Third Street, but failing to make the purchase from the Pennsylvania and Reading railroad, settled for locating in Philadelphia.

Mt. Gretna's Chautauqua

In January of 1892 a group met at the courthouse to organize the "Pennsylvania Chautauqua" project. The meeting was chaired by Judge McPherson. Various ministers and professors spoke eloquently for the cause of popular higher education.

Joseph Lemberger, proprietor of the drug store, made a motion establishing a committee to sell stock subscriptions. In addition to Lemberger and several others, Jacob DeHuff was appointed to the committee.

They sold $10 shares in the organization. Several days later the s of association were filed in the prothonotary's office by B. F. Hean . Among stock sales reported, two generous subscribers were Robert H. Coleman and Jacob DeHuff, each purchasing five shares.

DeHuff also purchased a cottage on the Chautauqua grounds; in newspaper social notices he hosted those such as the former pastor of the Centenary ME church.

Jacob's passion

As stated on his passing, though he was well known in Lebanon's mercantile circles he was probably more intimately known as an ardent worker in Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, devoted to its Sunday School. He led the Bible study class for over 25 years.

In 1883 his school children gave him a gift of a gold-headed cane. Years later they held a surprise party in his home on one occasion, and then his 25th anniversary was a highly publicized event.

He was also recognized for his philanthropy. When the campaign for the Home for Widows ( see part 2 ) began, his store promoted the tickets for fundraisers such as the strawberry festival. He donated merchandise and funds to the home over the years.

Jacob DeHuff's final years

By 1900 DeHuff sold off his newspaper routes and customers to the Lebanon News Agency. The next year, he moved the business again, this time across the street to the "DeHuff Building" at 813 Cumberland Street. Doing so required several auctions to liquidate enough merchandise to fit into his smaller shop.

By 1904 he retired, selling the shop to his employee, John Graybill, though it would remain known by many as "DeHuff's" bookstore. At age 68 he was feeling his age. Gilbert, his younger brother by two years had died seven years earlier.

He was still an active citizen of Lebanon, donating to charity at Good Samaritan Hospital and the Home for Widows and Single Women. He helped establish the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).

Never married; Jacob died in 1908. Weak legs kept him confined to his home at 520 Cumberland Street for more than a year. He died peacefully while while napping one evening and was found by his sister. Miss Sue DeHuff shared the home with him, along with their sister Catherine ("Kate"), the widow Mrs. John Meily.

His sisters had been entertaining several other women, including sister Anna (Mrs. Richard Meily) in the adjacent parlor. Sue made the discovery upon entering his room, offering to share some ice cream.

"In his death the city has lost an exemplary citizen, the church one of its most untiring and faithful workers, and the home a devoted brother." The spirit of kindness, exemplified.

Story Credits

Mike Trump of the Cornwall Iron Furnace and Lebanon County Historical Society, for several photos.