Bellefonte and Bell Font by Max Kroell
The town of Bellefonte was laid out in 1795 by Col. James Dunlop and James Harris. There are a few theories behind the naming of the town. One of the main theories is that Bellefonte means “beautiful fountain” in French. The name was suggested to Mr. and Mrs. James Harris by the Duke of Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice, who was in Pennsylvania at the time (Espenshade, 1925). This is the same diplomat who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase from Thomas Jefferson. Anne Harris, the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Harris, spoke no French but often recalled her grandmother telling the story of Talleyrand and his visit, always recalling the name of the “Bellefonte” because of its big spring (Espenshade, 1925). Another theory of the name of Bellefonte is that the town is named after John Dunlop’s forge that he called “Bell Font Forge” (Talleyrand Citizens Committee, 2017). This theory is believed because the French word “Font” does not mean water but rather “casting.” The term “Bell Font” was supposed to be a tribute to the iron that was taken from the forge (TCC, 2017).
Spring Creek, Spring Street, Big Spring by Dietrich Chaffee
The Big Spring is a descriptive toponym for the main water source for Bellefonte and the surrounding region. The name fits as 11.5 million gallons flow through the spring daily (BHCA, n.d.). The creek that flows from the spring is aptly named Spring Creek after the Big Spring. Similarly, the adjacent roadway is also named after the spring, Spring Street. Before Bellefonte was surveyed and laid out in 1795, the town was known as “Big Spring” (BHCA, n.d.).
Fisherman’s Paradise by Megan Elnitski
Fisherman’s Paradise is the oldest and one of the most famous fly-fishing-only waters in the country. It is part of Spring Creek, measuring one mile. It was designed as a model of effective habitat improvement (Scheck, 2008). Trout enthusiasts always make sure to visit the Paradise at least once in their lifetime. It has some of the highest concentration of wild brown trout. The name of this section of Spring Creek is very fitting, as it is most definitely a paradise for fishermen.
Lamb Street (Lamb’s Crossing) by Dietrich Chaffee
In 1785 William Lamb built what is believed to have been the first structure in Bellefonte, the Thomas House, on 750 acres of land he bought (BHCA, n.d.). Along with the house, Lamb built a mill and a mill race. Over time the settlement grew, coming to be known by the possessive toponym of Lamb’s Crossing.
Union Cemetery by Kerri Hoover
The Union Cemetery is located on East Howard Street in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Some sources note that burials in the cemetery began as early as 1808. In fact, the first person to be buried in the cemetery was Colonel John Boggs, an American Revolution veteran who passed away in the late 18th century. Along with Colonel Boggs, many other notorious individuals from Bellefonte and its surrounding areas can be found in the cemetery such as Evan Pugh, Governor Andrew Curtin, George Harris, and several negro units from the Union Army of James who were directly involved in the Civil War. In fact, some people argue that Union Cemetery was named after multiple individuals and units who participated in the Union army during the American Civil War. However, there is a slight controversy behind the correct reason for the naming of the Union Cemetery. Besides the cemetery being the burial site of many Union soldiers, other folks claim that the cemetery's origin came from the merger of several acres of land.
Blanchard Street by Kerri Hoover
The town of Blanchard is located in Liberty Township, Pennsylvania- miles outside of Beach Creek. It is noted that John Blanchard, a prominent attorney, had settled in the town of Bellefonte in 1915 (Dubbs, n.d.). Later, it was “Honest John Blanchard” who the town of Blanchard was officially named after.
Brockerhoff House by Max Kroell
The most notable example of Henry Brockerhoff’s legacy in Bellefonte is the Brockerhoff hotel, which is now known as the Brockerhoff House. The building was named the Brockerhoff due to the fact that Henry Brockerhoff had the building built. The current building was built in 1864-1865 on a piece of land that was once the home of a log cabin that was owned by Phillip Benner (Talleyrand Citizens Committee, 2013).
Lock Haven by Logan Mathieu
Lock Haven, along with Clinton County, were established by Jeremiah Church, from New York. In 1833, Church bought a large corn field along the Pennsylvania Canal and the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Eventually he planned out a town and named it Lock Haven, because the canal had a “lock” there, and the river furnished an excellent harbor, or “haven”, for rafts.
Buffalo Run by Carmen Seybold
Buffalo Run Road is Hwy 550 from Bellefonte toward Fillmore. The name Buffalo Run dates back to 1769, after a buffalo lick that was located on one of the farms along Buffalo Run. Licks are places, usually found on the banks of rivers, or creeks, and spring heads, where the clay or earth has concentrations of saline particles. These places are frequented by deer, elks, buffaloes, and horses, which daily come to them to lick the earth or clay with their tongues ( De Vorsey, 1998). Buffalo were supposedly seen in and near Clearfield, therefore it makes sense that buffalo might have frequented this lick. A run is a small creek or brook, buffalo were seen near this run at the lick, earning the Buffalo Run its name (Linn, 1975).
Boggs Township by Megan Elnitski
Boggs Township was created in 1814 as a division of Spring Township and was named after Andrew Boggs, the first white settler there (Centre County Historical Society). He lived near what is now Milesburg. This township was at the location of two important early ironmaking operations. These were the Milesburg Iron Works and the Eagle Iron Works.
Talleyrand Park by Carmen Seybold
The Bellefonte Borough Council developed plans for a park at the site of the deteriorated McClain block, and in 1974 the Talleyrand Park Committee was formed. The park was named after French statesman and diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand who was in exile during the French Revolution. It was said that during his exile he visited Bellefonte, and may have inspired the name “Bellefonte.” The park was named in honor of Talleyrand. Today, the park is a central part of the community.
Milesburg by Clara Bannach
The Milesburg Borough was first founded as a village in 1793. The name comes from Colonel Samuel Miles who surveyed the town plan. In 1795, after the village was founded, Colonel Miles started up the Milesburg Ironworks. A long while after the village was founded it was changed to a borough under the Act of March 3, 1843 (Milesburg Borough n.d.). Samuel Miles served in a militia company starting at the age of 16. He served in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. He was the Colonel of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment (Pennsylvania State University, n.d.).
McCalls Dam State Park by Clara Bannach
Johnny McCall built a dam besides White Deer Creek in 1850. It was used to give power to McCall’s sawmill and shingle mill. The dam was repaired later on, being used for a series of splash dams. It was also used to float white pine logs to other sawmills. Both his mills and the dam are gone now but the park was named as a remembrance of him (McCalls Dam State Park, n.d.).
Valentine Hill Road by Clara Bannach
Valentine Hill road was named after Valentines & Thomas Iron-Works which was located next to Logan Branch in Bellefonte. Valentines & Thomas Iron-Works was first owned by John Dunlop. After he died in 1815, the Valentine brothers and William A. Thomas decided to take over the company. The purchase didn’t go through until 1821 (Linn, 1975). The economy of Bellefonte was centered around this iron industry. This location allowed easy access to iron ore (Iron Industry, n.d.).
Bald Eagle by Clara Bannach
All of the things named after Bald Eagle can be condensed into one region. Within this region there is the Bald Eagle Mountains, Bald Eagle State Park, and Bald Eagle Creek (Espenshade, 1925). This region was once ruled by the Native American chief, Woapalanne, whose name translates into English as, “Bald Eagle” (Leight, 2014).
Friends Graveyard by Hannah Robb
Friends graveyard was named after the Society of Friends that was run by a group of Quakers on Half Moon Hill. The Society of Friends had a meeting hall on the land where the cemetery was built in 1800 (Linn, 1975). The Quakers were the first people buried in the cemetery, the most relevant and oldest name in the cemetery is Wilson. A Quaker Meeting House is also located where the current Knights of Columbus resides on top of Stony Batter Rd.
Half Moon Hill by Halle Mitchell
Whenever settlers came to Centre County, they found crudely drawn half moons on trees, presumably from the inhabiting Indians. Thus, they named Half-Moon Creek, which then inspired the name for Half Moon Township and a cemetery in the region dubbed Half Moon Hill. This area is located at the end of West High street, marking it as the westernmost most part of downtown Bellefonte. As the land began to be developed into residential living areas, the usage as a cemetery diminished. James A. Chambers, one of the first people who lived in this area, ended up being buried here in 1879 (Linn, 1975).
Gamble Mill by Halle Mitchell
The Gamble Mill was originally a grist mill and still pumps water from Spring Creek to other parts of Bellefonte today. It is also known as Lamb’s Mill, after its original constructor, William Lamb. (BHCA, n.d.). It was also a meeting place where various activities took place when it was originally constructed, but has since become a restaurant and tavern. It was originally built in 1786, but had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1892 and has been renovated since then (BHCA, n.d.). It is located by Lamb’s Crossing.
Crider’s Exchange by Halle Mitchell
Philip B. Crider developed the large manufacturing plant of Crider and Son, which specialized in manufacturing of boxes and dressed lumber. He acquired a lot of land and was a powerful businessman in the Bellefonte area (Linn, 1975) . His son then joined in 1866 and located their mill headquarters in Bellefonte. In 1888 after the great fire which destroyed some of the best business buildings in Bellefonte, he purchased the site of the present "Crider's Exchange." He then used this space to create a business block for Bellefonte, and erected the building to be called the “Crider’s Exchange” as one of the primary business buildings in Bellefonte (USGWArchives, n.d.). The building is located on North Allegheny Street, across the street from the Bellefonte Courthouse on the northern side.
Centre Hall by Brian Feldman
Centre Hall was named by Henry Whitmer in 1846. It was dubbed “Centre Hall” because it was situated directly in between the eastern and western halves of Penns Valley. He thought that the best way to name a place in the “center” of another place was to name it “Centre Hall” (Dubbs, n.d.).
Zion by Brian Feldman
Zion is a word that coincides with many religions which leads to how this area was named. Within the Christian religion specifically, Zion is known as the heavenly city. Near the beginning of this area’s existence, very few people lived here but many churches were clustered here. More specifically, Zion was named after Zion Church—a church located in Zion erected by the Lutherans. This church has since been taken down and rebuilt, however, the name has remained (Dubbs, n.d.).
State College by Brian Feldman
Many years after the creation of this town, it was still called, “the town that had no name” by locals and residents. Around the turn of the 20th century, a small argument arose about the true name of the town. Three prevailing names- McAllister, Nittany, and Irvin all were thought of as possible names, however, no single name could be decided upon. In turn, the majority of residents wanted to continue calling the area a name that ran synonymous with the State Agricultural College that was located there, so the name “State College” was given (Dubbs, n.d., p. 29).
Kepler Pool by Brian Feldman
Kepler Pool in Bellefonte is named after Robert Kepler who is from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Kepler was a councilman of the Bellefonte Borough and was a large proponent and overseer of the construction and development of Governors Park (Kepler Pool Sign, n.d.).
Harmony Forge by Hannah Robb
Harmony forge was built in 1795 by Joseph Miles and was meant to work in conjunction with Center Furnace, which made pig iron. In 1817, it started producing iron completely by itself and by 1819 numerous mills were used on the property. One of the iron masters of the area is said to have giving the forge the name Harmony (Gombach Group, 2017).
Allegheny Street by Matthew Maris
Native Americans first used the name Allegheny to describe their connection with the Allegheny River. It has become the namesake for Allegheny Street, multiple Allegheny Counties, the Allegheny Mountain Range, and the Allegheny National Forest. As to its meaning, there are multiple translations from different tribes. One example from the Allegewi, “Alligewi-hanna,” means the “stream of the Alligewi” (Donehoo, 1928). Other translations express a “fine river” or “the best river.” The Delaware (Lenape) also referred to Allegheny as “endless” (Espenshade, 1925). While diverse, each of these interpretations is connected. Rivers are the source of human settlement and culture. The fine Allegheny River, and the Native Americans who depended upon it, are the source of Allegheny Street in Bellefonte. Allegheny Street is also PA 144, which travels north to the headwaters of the Allegheny River in Potter County (WITF, 2011).
Bush House Hotel by Demetri Butts
The Bush House Hotel was built during the post-Civil War boom in 1868-69 by a traveling map salesman who decided to stay. That salesman, Daniel G. Bush arrived in Bellefonte in 1856 and built 27 other buildings in Bellefonte, including the Bush Arcade. The Bush House was the first building in Bellefonte to have electricity because Thomas Edison, along with other notables including Henry Ford and Amelia Earhart, stayed there at one point (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). In 1928, it was bought by William J. Emerich, who renamed it the Penn Belle Hotel. Gino Fornicola, who was a former mayor of Bellefonte, became co-owner and renamed it the Bush House in the early 1970s. On February 8, 2006, the Bush House burnt down and was never rebuilt (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). The fire may have been smoldering for hours due to the lack of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, or overnight guests. The fire caused many surrounding streets to close and power outages in some areas. More than 20 companies, over 150 firefighters total, rushed to the scene, but could not enter the building because of how dangerous the conditions inside were (Daily Collegian, 2006).
Curtin Street and Curtin Residence by Alina Watson
Cutin Street is named after Governor Andrew Curtin who was the governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War. He is one of seven governors who came from Bellefonte (ExplorePAHistory, n.d.). Along the street there are several homes with Victorian architecture and some aspects of the Second Empire Style. One home built by McCafferty, 137 W. Curtain Street, has wide porches in the front and the back as well as a walnut spiral staircase inside stretching all three stories (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). It had many famous residents including Officer John Irvin Curtin, the nephew of Governor Andrew Curtin. Governor Cutin’s home is located on 120 West High Street and shows many examples of Tuscan revival architecture. His residence is now owned by the Bellefonte Elks Club #1094 (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). Both Governor Andrew Curtin and Officer John Irvin Curtin are buried in Union Cemetery in Bellefonte (Find a Grave, n.d.).
The Linn House by Jessica Shearer
On North Allegheny Street stands the Linn house Constructed by ironmaster Philip Benner, the Linn house was home to Judge Jonathan Walker and Judge Charles Huston. As well as Governor James A. Beaver. John Blair Linn, who is husband to Benner’s granddaughter, moved into the house in 1883. The quality of limestone reflects the major industry which is still true to this day (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). It is now home to the Bellefonte Art Museum, where local artists are showcased. Many activities are carried out here; including free art classes, world gallery, and art library. Even an exhibit on the underground railroad where it shows the role our region helped with the people’s journey to freedom (Bellefonte Art Museum, 2015).
Updated May, 2018
The town of Bellefonte was laid out in 1795 by Col. James Dunlop and James Harris. There are a few theories behind the naming of the town. One of the main theories is that Bellefonte means “beautiful fountain” in French. The name was suggested to Mr. and Mrs. James Harris by the Duke of Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice, who was in Pennsylvania at the time (Espenshade, 1925). This is the same diplomat who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase from Thomas Jefferson. Anne Harris, the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Harris, spoke no French but often recalled her grandmother telling the story of Talleyrand and his visit, always recalling the name of the “Bellefonte” because of its big spring (Espenshade, 1925). Another theory of the name of Bellefonte is that the town is named after John Dunlop’s forge that he called “Bell Font Forge” (Talleyrand Citizens Committee, 2017). This theory is believed because the French word “Font” does not mean water but rather “casting.” The term “Bell Font” was supposed to be a tribute to the iron that was taken from the forge (TCC, 2017).
Spring Creek, Spring Street, Big Spring by Dietrich Chaffee
The Big Spring is a descriptive toponym for the main water source for Bellefonte and the surrounding region. The name fits as 11.5 million gallons flow through the spring daily (BHCA, n.d.). The creek that flows from the spring is aptly named Spring Creek after the Big Spring. Similarly, the adjacent roadway is also named after the spring, Spring Street. Before Bellefonte was surveyed and laid out in 1795, the town was known as “Big Spring” (BHCA, n.d.).
Fisherman’s Paradise by Megan Elnitski
Fisherman’s Paradise is the oldest and one of the most famous fly-fishing-only waters in the country. It is part of Spring Creek, measuring one mile. It was designed as a model of effective habitat improvement (Scheck, 2008). Trout enthusiasts always make sure to visit the Paradise at least once in their lifetime. It has some of the highest concentration of wild brown trout. The name of this section of Spring Creek is very fitting, as it is most definitely a paradise for fishermen.
Lamb Street (Lamb’s Crossing) by Dietrich Chaffee
In 1785 William Lamb built what is believed to have been the first structure in Bellefonte, the Thomas House, on 750 acres of land he bought (BHCA, n.d.). Along with the house, Lamb built a mill and a mill race. Over time the settlement grew, coming to be known by the possessive toponym of Lamb’s Crossing.
Union Cemetery by Kerri Hoover
The Union Cemetery is located on East Howard Street in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Some sources note that burials in the cemetery began as early as 1808. In fact, the first person to be buried in the cemetery was Colonel John Boggs, an American Revolution veteran who passed away in the late 18th century. Along with Colonel Boggs, many other notorious individuals from Bellefonte and its surrounding areas can be found in the cemetery such as Evan Pugh, Governor Andrew Curtin, George Harris, and several negro units from the Union Army of James who were directly involved in the Civil War. In fact, some people argue that Union Cemetery was named after multiple individuals and units who participated in the Union army during the American Civil War. However, there is a slight controversy behind the correct reason for the naming of the Union Cemetery. Besides the cemetery being the burial site of many Union soldiers, other folks claim that the cemetery's origin came from the merger of several acres of land.
Blanchard Street by Kerri Hoover
The town of Blanchard is located in Liberty Township, Pennsylvania- miles outside of Beach Creek. It is noted that John Blanchard, a prominent attorney, had settled in the town of Bellefonte in 1915 (Dubbs, n.d.). Later, it was “Honest John Blanchard” who the town of Blanchard was officially named after.
Brockerhoff House by Max Kroell
The most notable example of Henry Brockerhoff’s legacy in Bellefonte is the Brockerhoff hotel, which is now known as the Brockerhoff House. The building was named the Brockerhoff due to the fact that Henry Brockerhoff had the building built. The current building was built in 1864-1865 on a piece of land that was once the home of a log cabin that was owned by Phillip Benner (Talleyrand Citizens Committee, 2013).
Lock Haven by Logan Mathieu
Lock Haven, along with Clinton County, were established by Jeremiah Church, from New York. In 1833, Church bought a large corn field along the Pennsylvania Canal and the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Eventually he planned out a town and named it Lock Haven, because the canal had a “lock” there, and the river furnished an excellent harbor, or “haven”, for rafts.
Buffalo Run by Carmen Seybold
Buffalo Run Road is Hwy 550 from Bellefonte toward Fillmore. The name Buffalo Run dates back to 1769, after a buffalo lick that was located on one of the farms along Buffalo Run. Licks are places, usually found on the banks of rivers, or creeks, and spring heads, where the clay or earth has concentrations of saline particles. These places are frequented by deer, elks, buffaloes, and horses, which daily come to them to lick the earth or clay with their tongues ( De Vorsey, 1998). Buffalo were supposedly seen in and near Clearfield, therefore it makes sense that buffalo might have frequented this lick. A run is a small creek or brook, buffalo were seen near this run at the lick, earning the Buffalo Run its name (Linn, 1975).
Boggs Township by Megan Elnitski
Boggs Township was created in 1814 as a division of Spring Township and was named after Andrew Boggs, the first white settler there (Centre County Historical Society). He lived near what is now Milesburg. This township was at the location of two important early ironmaking operations. These were the Milesburg Iron Works and the Eagle Iron Works.
Talleyrand Park by Carmen Seybold
The Bellefonte Borough Council developed plans for a park at the site of the deteriorated McClain block, and in 1974 the Talleyrand Park Committee was formed. The park was named after French statesman and diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand who was in exile during the French Revolution. It was said that during his exile he visited Bellefonte, and may have inspired the name “Bellefonte.” The park was named in honor of Talleyrand. Today, the park is a central part of the community.
Milesburg by Clara Bannach
The Milesburg Borough was first founded as a village in 1793. The name comes from Colonel Samuel Miles who surveyed the town plan. In 1795, after the village was founded, Colonel Miles started up the Milesburg Ironworks. A long while after the village was founded it was changed to a borough under the Act of March 3, 1843 (Milesburg Borough n.d.). Samuel Miles served in a militia company starting at the age of 16. He served in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. He was the Colonel of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment (Pennsylvania State University, n.d.).
McCalls Dam State Park by Clara Bannach
Johnny McCall built a dam besides White Deer Creek in 1850. It was used to give power to McCall’s sawmill and shingle mill. The dam was repaired later on, being used for a series of splash dams. It was also used to float white pine logs to other sawmills. Both his mills and the dam are gone now but the park was named as a remembrance of him (McCalls Dam State Park, n.d.).
Valentine Hill Road by Clara Bannach
Valentine Hill road was named after Valentines & Thomas Iron-Works which was located next to Logan Branch in Bellefonte. Valentines & Thomas Iron-Works was first owned by John Dunlop. After he died in 1815, the Valentine brothers and William A. Thomas decided to take over the company. The purchase didn’t go through until 1821 (Linn, 1975). The economy of Bellefonte was centered around this iron industry. This location allowed easy access to iron ore (Iron Industry, n.d.).
Bald Eagle by Clara Bannach
All of the things named after Bald Eagle can be condensed into one region. Within this region there is the Bald Eagle Mountains, Bald Eagle State Park, and Bald Eagle Creek (Espenshade, 1925). This region was once ruled by the Native American chief, Woapalanne, whose name translates into English as, “Bald Eagle” (Leight, 2014).
Friends Graveyard by Hannah Robb
Friends graveyard was named after the Society of Friends that was run by a group of Quakers on Half Moon Hill. The Society of Friends had a meeting hall on the land where the cemetery was built in 1800 (Linn, 1975). The Quakers were the first people buried in the cemetery, the most relevant and oldest name in the cemetery is Wilson. A Quaker Meeting House is also located where the current Knights of Columbus resides on top of Stony Batter Rd.
Half Moon Hill by Halle Mitchell
Whenever settlers came to Centre County, they found crudely drawn half moons on trees, presumably from the inhabiting Indians. Thus, they named Half-Moon Creek, which then inspired the name for Half Moon Township and a cemetery in the region dubbed Half Moon Hill. This area is located at the end of West High street, marking it as the westernmost most part of downtown Bellefonte. As the land began to be developed into residential living areas, the usage as a cemetery diminished. James A. Chambers, one of the first people who lived in this area, ended up being buried here in 1879 (Linn, 1975).
Gamble Mill by Halle Mitchell
The Gamble Mill was originally a grist mill and still pumps water from Spring Creek to other parts of Bellefonte today. It is also known as Lamb’s Mill, after its original constructor, William Lamb. (BHCA, n.d.). It was also a meeting place where various activities took place when it was originally constructed, but has since become a restaurant and tavern. It was originally built in 1786, but had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1892 and has been renovated since then (BHCA, n.d.). It is located by Lamb’s Crossing.
Crider’s Exchange by Halle Mitchell
Philip B. Crider developed the large manufacturing plant of Crider and Son, which specialized in manufacturing of boxes and dressed lumber. He acquired a lot of land and was a powerful businessman in the Bellefonte area (Linn, 1975) . His son then joined in 1866 and located their mill headquarters in Bellefonte. In 1888 after the great fire which destroyed some of the best business buildings in Bellefonte, he purchased the site of the present "Crider's Exchange." He then used this space to create a business block for Bellefonte, and erected the building to be called the “Crider’s Exchange” as one of the primary business buildings in Bellefonte (USGWArchives, n.d.). The building is located on North Allegheny Street, across the street from the Bellefonte Courthouse on the northern side.
Centre Hall by Brian Feldman
Centre Hall was named by Henry Whitmer in 1846. It was dubbed “Centre Hall” because it was situated directly in between the eastern and western halves of Penns Valley. He thought that the best way to name a place in the “center” of another place was to name it “Centre Hall” (Dubbs, n.d.).
Zion by Brian Feldman
Zion is a word that coincides with many religions which leads to how this area was named. Within the Christian religion specifically, Zion is known as the heavenly city. Near the beginning of this area’s existence, very few people lived here but many churches were clustered here. More specifically, Zion was named after Zion Church—a church located in Zion erected by the Lutherans. This church has since been taken down and rebuilt, however, the name has remained (Dubbs, n.d.).
State College by Brian Feldman
Many years after the creation of this town, it was still called, “the town that had no name” by locals and residents. Around the turn of the 20th century, a small argument arose about the true name of the town. Three prevailing names- McAllister, Nittany, and Irvin all were thought of as possible names, however, no single name could be decided upon. In turn, the majority of residents wanted to continue calling the area a name that ran synonymous with the State Agricultural College that was located there, so the name “State College” was given (Dubbs, n.d., p. 29).
Kepler Pool by Brian Feldman
Kepler Pool in Bellefonte is named after Robert Kepler who is from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Kepler was a councilman of the Bellefonte Borough and was a large proponent and overseer of the construction and development of Governors Park (Kepler Pool Sign, n.d.).
Harmony Forge by Hannah Robb
Harmony forge was built in 1795 by Joseph Miles and was meant to work in conjunction with Center Furnace, which made pig iron. In 1817, it started producing iron completely by itself and by 1819 numerous mills were used on the property. One of the iron masters of the area is said to have giving the forge the name Harmony (Gombach Group, 2017).
Allegheny Street by Matthew Maris
Native Americans first used the name Allegheny to describe their connection with the Allegheny River. It has become the namesake for Allegheny Street, multiple Allegheny Counties, the Allegheny Mountain Range, and the Allegheny National Forest. As to its meaning, there are multiple translations from different tribes. One example from the Allegewi, “Alligewi-hanna,” means the “stream of the Alligewi” (Donehoo, 1928). Other translations express a “fine river” or “the best river.” The Delaware (Lenape) also referred to Allegheny as “endless” (Espenshade, 1925). While diverse, each of these interpretations is connected. Rivers are the source of human settlement and culture. The fine Allegheny River, and the Native Americans who depended upon it, are the source of Allegheny Street in Bellefonte. Allegheny Street is also PA 144, which travels north to the headwaters of the Allegheny River in Potter County (WITF, 2011).
Bush House Hotel by Demetri Butts
The Bush House Hotel was built during the post-Civil War boom in 1868-69 by a traveling map salesman who decided to stay. That salesman, Daniel G. Bush arrived in Bellefonte in 1856 and built 27 other buildings in Bellefonte, including the Bush Arcade. The Bush House was the first building in Bellefonte to have electricity because Thomas Edison, along with other notables including Henry Ford and Amelia Earhart, stayed there at one point (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). In 1928, it was bought by William J. Emerich, who renamed it the Penn Belle Hotel. Gino Fornicola, who was a former mayor of Bellefonte, became co-owner and renamed it the Bush House in the early 1970s. On February 8, 2006, the Bush House burnt down and was never rebuilt (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). The fire may have been smoldering for hours due to the lack of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, or overnight guests. The fire caused many surrounding streets to close and power outages in some areas. More than 20 companies, over 150 firefighters total, rushed to the scene, but could not enter the building because of how dangerous the conditions inside were (Daily Collegian, 2006).
Curtin Street and Curtin Residence by Alina Watson
Cutin Street is named after Governor Andrew Curtin who was the governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War. He is one of seven governors who came from Bellefonte (ExplorePAHistory, n.d.). Along the street there are several homes with Victorian architecture and some aspects of the Second Empire Style. One home built by McCafferty, 137 W. Curtain Street, has wide porches in the front and the back as well as a walnut spiral staircase inside stretching all three stories (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). It had many famous residents including Officer John Irvin Curtin, the nephew of Governor Andrew Curtin. Governor Cutin’s home is located on 120 West High Street and shows many examples of Tuscan revival architecture. His residence is now owned by the Bellefonte Elks Club #1094 (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). Both Governor Andrew Curtin and Officer John Irvin Curtin are buried in Union Cemetery in Bellefonte (Find a Grave, n.d.).
The Linn House by Jessica Shearer
On North Allegheny Street stands the Linn house Constructed by ironmaster Philip Benner, the Linn house was home to Judge Jonathan Walker and Judge Charles Huston. As well as Governor James A. Beaver. John Blair Linn, who is husband to Benner’s granddaughter, moved into the house in 1883. The quality of limestone reflects the major industry which is still true to this day (Virtual Walking Tour, n.d.). It is now home to the Bellefonte Art Museum, where local artists are showcased. Many activities are carried out here; including free art classes, world gallery, and art library. Even an exhibit on the underground railroad where it shows the role our region helped with the people’s journey to freedom (Bellefonte Art Museum, 2015).
Updated May, 2018
References:
Andrew G. Curtin Historical Marker. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-12A
Bellefonte Art Museum. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bellefontemuseum.org/about
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (2013). Historical Walking Tour of Bellefonte (11th ed.). Bellefonte, PA: Tallyrand Park Committee.
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (n.d.). A Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/virtual_home.htm
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (n.d.). Background to the Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/background.htm
The Bush House (Penn Belle) Hotel. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2018, from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/Bush_House.htm
Centre County Genealogical Society (n.d.). Bellefonte Cemeteries. Pennsylvania.
Centre County Historical Society. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.centrehistory.org/centre-countys-townships-and-boroughs
De Vorsey, Louis. (1998). Bartram's Buffalo Lick. Retrieved from http://www.bartramtrail.org/page-1715734
Donehoo, G. P. (1928/1977). Indian Villages and Place Names In Pennsylvania. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc.
Dubbs, P. M. (n.d.). Where to go and place-names of Centre county: a collection of articles from the Centre Daily Times, compiled and published during 1959-1960. State College, PA: Centre Daily Times.
Espenshade, A. H. (1925/1970). Pennsylvania Place Names. State College, PA: The Pennsylvania State College.
Gamble Mill. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.gamblemill.org/gamblemill/about.html.
Gombach Group. (2017). Harmony Forge Mansion. Retrieved from http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Centre_County/Boggs_Township/Harmony_Forge_Mansion.html
Goodpaster, K. E., Nash, L. L., & de Bettignies, H. (2006). Business ethics: Policies and persons (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Iron Industry (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/background.htm.
J. B. Linn. (1975). History of Centre and Clinton Counties. Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, Inc.
John Irvin Curtin (1837-1911) - Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7448062/john-irvin-curtin
Kopacz, K. (2006, February 09). Flames swallow historic building. Retrieved May 29, 2018, from http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_642f9eb7-3b4b-5731-8e49-ba01d861704e.html
Leight, E. T. (2014). Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County. Retrieved from https://sites.psu.edu/leighemilrcl/2014/09/24/48/
McCalls Dam State Park (n.d.) Retrieved from http://dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/mccallsdam/index.htm
Milesburg Borough. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.milesburgboro.com/
Pennsylvania State University. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/miles_sam.html
Schneck, M. S. (2008, November 15). Nature's Navigator: Fisherman's Paradise. Retrieve http://blog.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2008/11/natures_navigator_fishermans_p.html
Smith, F. D. (n.d.). Fred D Smith Gallery of Postcards and Photos of The Big Spring, The Match
Factory, and the Falls on Spring Creek: The Talleyrand Park Area. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Smith_pages/Smith_spring.htm
USGWArchives. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/bios/crider-fnt.txt.
WITF. (2011). Allegheny River Historical Market. Retrieved from http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-3E
*Photographer: Kerri Hoover (2017-2018)
*Editors: Halle Mitchell and Brian Feldman (2017-2018)
Andrew G. Curtin Historical Marker. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-12A
Bellefonte Art Museum. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bellefontemuseum.org/about
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (2013). Historical Walking Tour of Bellefonte (11th ed.). Bellefonte, PA: Tallyrand Park Committee.
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (n.d.). A Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/virtual_home.htm
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. (n.d.). Background to the Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/background.htm
The Bush House (Penn Belle) Hotel. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2018, from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/Bush_House.htm
Centre County Genealogical Society (n.d.). Bellefonte Cemeteries. Pennsylvania.
Centre County Historical Society. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.centrehistory.org/centre-countys-townships-and-boroughs
De Vorsey, Louis. (1998). Bartram's Buffalo Lick. Retrieved from http://www.bartramtrail.org/page-1715734
Donehoo, G. P. (1928/1977). Indian Villages and Place Names In Pennsylvania. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc.
Dubbs, P. M. (n.d.). Where to go and place-names of Centre county: a collection of articles from the Centre Daily Times, compiled and published during 1959-1960. State College, PA: Centre Daily Times.
Espenshade, A. H. (1925/1970). Pennsylvania Place Names. State College, PA: The Pennsylvania State College.
Gamble Mill. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.gamblemill.org/gamblemill/about.html.
Gombach Group. (2017). Harmony Forge Mansion. Retrieved from http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Centre_County/Boggs_Township/Harmony_Forge_Mansion.html
Goodpaster, K. E., Nash, L. L., & de Bettignies, H. (2006). Business ethics: Policies and persons (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Iron Industry (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/background.htm.
J. B. Linn. (1975). History of Centre and Clinton Counties. Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, Inc.
John Irvin Curtin (1837-1911) - Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2018, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7448062/john-irvin-curtin
Kopacz, K. (2006, February 09). Flames swallow historic building. Retrieved May 29, 2018, from http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_642f9eb7-3b4b-5731-8e49-ba01d861704e.html
Leight, E. T. (2014). Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County. Retrieved from https://sites.psu.edu/leighemilrcl/2014/09/24/48/
McCalls Dam State Park (n.d.) Retrieved from http://dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/mccallsdam/index.htm
Milesburg Borough. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.milesburgboro.com/
Pennsylvania State University. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/miles_sam.html
Schneck, M. S. (2008, November 15). Nature's Navigator: Fisherman's Paradise. Retrieve http://blog.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2008/11/natures_navigator_fishermans_p.html
Smith, F. D. (n.d.). Fred D Smith Gallery of Postcards and Photos of The Big Spring, The Match
Factory, and the Falls on Spring Creek: The Talleyrand Park Area. Retrieved from http://www.bellefontearts.org/Smith_pages/Smith_spring.htm
USGWArchives. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/bios/crider-fnt.txt.
WITF. (2011). Allegheny River Historical Market. Retrieved from http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-3E
*Photographer: Kerri Hoover (2017-2018)
*Editors: Halle Mitchell and Brian Feldman (2017-2018)