In honor of Ridgway’s Bicentennial, we continue our monthly series highlighting homes in Ridgway’s Historic Lily of The Valley Historic District in the words of local historian Bob Imhof.
Biography of Norman Theo Arnold and Hannah Frances Thompson Arnold And Their Home at Bonifels.
Norman Theo Arnold, attorney at law, Ridgway, son of W. W. and Margaret Ann Arnold, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., in 1857.
In 1858 he was taken by his father to Potter County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated in the lower branches. Being desirous of obtaining an education, and his father being in limited circumstances, he taught school to obtain the money to defray his expenses at a higher school, and finally graduated from the normal school at Lock Haven in 1879.
He had determined to make law his profession and accordingly began his studies with D. C. Larrabee, of Coudersport, in 1881 and in 1884 was admitted to the bar. He began the practice at Ridgway, being associated with Dyson Rishell and later with W. W. Barbour, formed the present firm of Arnold & Barbour. Mr. Arnold takes great interest in his professional practice, and is also devoted to scientific studies, taking a special interest in the study of astronomy.
He was a Republican in politics though not an active politician. He married Hannah Thompson, a daughter of Robinson and Cynthia J. Thompson, of Cedar Springs, Clinton County, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1881 and they have two children: Laura (born in 1883) and Paul (born in 1889). Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are among the prominent young people of Ridgway. Mr. Arnold passed away on the 10th of August 1906 at the age of 49 and is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylvania. His widow Hannah Frances Thompson Arnold survived him until 1933.Bonifels is a historic home located at Ridgway Township in Elk County, Pennsylvania.
It was built in 1898 by Norman T. Arnold of Vermont granite and is a large 2 1⁄2-story, “T” shaped stone mansion. It features hipped roofs with hipped roofed dormers, a conical tower, and a crenellated stone tower. It was owned at one time by the Elk County Country Club.
You can find more information about Ridgway’s Bicentennial events as well as other upcoming events happening Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region at VisitPAGO.com/Events
