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18. Hildegarde Dolson House

The quaint home at 424 Sixteenth Street was built by Major Kennedy of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania in 1865. The first residents were the Reverend and Mrs. Henry Caswall. Father Caswell was an Episcopal priest, a well-known religious scholar and prolific author.

In 1920 the home was purchased by Clifford and Katharine Dolson. Their daughter Hildegarde became a well-known poet, playwright and novelist. One of Hildegarde's best loved books is "We Shook the Family Tree". In addition to detailing some of the outrageous exploits of the Dolson children, the book describes the family’s purchase of "The House", which was "on the hill at the top of Buffalo Street". Katharine Dolson fell in love with "The House" because of the view and the fact that it was "so original." In addition, she felt that it would provide the family with an important commodity - "room to breathe".

To this day, "The House" retains much of the charm described by Hildegarde in her book.

Submitted by: Penny Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

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