The Clarion County Historical Society

The Clarion County Historical Society was established in 1955 and chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1956 as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational institution. The purpose of the Society is the discovery, collection, and preservation of materials pertaining to the history of Clarion County and to encourage the study and appreciation of the history. For many years the Society collections were located on the third floor of the Clarion County Court House. As the space at the Court House was becoming limited, it was necessary for the historical society to search for a new home. Twenty years after the founding of the society, in 1976, the John A. Ditz property on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Grant Street was purchased. It is used for the display of artifacts and collections illustrative of the history of Clarion County, its people, places, and industries. The society library, archives and offices were also housed there. As space became limited in the Sutton-Ditz House. Due to continued donations to the collections and an increase in library services, in 1999, a search began for another property from which the society could maintain its administrative offices, library, archives and museum store. That space was found at 17 South Fifth Avenue, directly across the street from the Sutton-Ditz House Museum, at the Milo Markle Annex. This new space allowed the society to expand its exhibits at the Sutton-Ditz House and bring out of storage many artifacts that, probably, have not been viewed by the public for many years.

History

In 1839 a young attorney from Indiana, Pennsylvania moved, with his family, and settled in Clarion County. His name was Thomas Sutton, grandson of Peter Sutton, a Revolutionary War veteran originally from New Jersey. In 1841 Thomas was accepted into the Clarion County Bar Association and quickly became a well respected and admired attorney. Nine years later in 1850 he constructed a two-story rough brick frame structure on the south side of the Clarion Borough green. It was a two-story rough brick home with a central hall and stairway. At the rear of the home was, what is believed to be, servant quarters on the first and second floor and a summer kitchen below the two story back porches. Sometime between 1841 and 1851 a small brick structured law office was constructed on the northeast corner of his property. Mr. Sutton enjoyed his new home for only three years when he contracted typhoid fever and died on March 26, 1853 leaving his wife and young children. Three days later his young son, Thomas, Jr., died of scarlet fever. Both are buried in the Clarion Protestant Cemetery. Mrs. Sutton and her remaining children moved shortly after the death of her husband and young son. The home saw a number of owners over the next half century. During the mid to late 1890's John Keller operated a school for young boys in the home and in 1908 it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Ditz. Mr. Ditz owned the Ditz & Mooney hardware store. Shortly after taking possession, local residents were seeing many changes taking place at the former Sutton home. The roof was raised to create a full third floor, finished brick was placed over the rough brick, leaded glass windows were installed on the first floor, a large balconied front porch and a two-story porch were added to the front and rear of the home. The interior was remodeled for the 1909 period and features an open back staircase, original oak, maple and chestnut woodwork including carved mantles of the same woods in each room and original lighting fixtures. As owner of the local hardware store Mr. Ditz had access to the finest lumber and other materials for their new home. The home is a transitional representation of late Victorian and early Arts and Craft Movement. After the depression years the Ditz family operated a tourist home, today's equivalent of a "bed & breakfast." Today, the home is maintained and operated by the historical society as a museum with period rooms and exhibit spaces.