BELLEFONTE SECRET?
“ MAGICIANS?”
After twenty years of research of the history of Bellefonte, it
sure seems like Bellefonte had the best magicians.
May, 2012 Vol. 5, Issue II
PAST ISSUES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT:
www.BellefonteSecrets.com
& www.BellefonteMagic.com
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LITTLE MISTAKES CAN MAKE MAJOR PROBLEMS
By RICHARD W KNUPP SR
The major problem in the world today is small misunderstandings that we think we understand. This holds true in
history, politics, religion, education and life in general. For some reason we take insinuations that are spoken as truths
without any proof of correctness and create errors that become history.
Centre County surely has been full of this recently in the debacle at Penn State. The problem in this case is that those
that were given the task to protect the university created a disaster by not understanding that in America you are
innocent until you are proven guilty. In reality they have become the Pontius Pilots of the 21st Century.
Historically over the years the Centre County area has had its share of events that have occurred that didn’t
really hurt anybody but have created a number of hero’s out of people who deserved no recognition
whatsoever.
Philip Benner was a factor in the development of the iron business and the development of Benner Township.
Somehow people have made him an important factor in the development of Bellefonte and some consider him more
important than John Dunlop.
I have read, and been told, about the difficulty Benner had in going to Lewistown for food and supplies. Why food?
William Lamb developed a grist mill in 1782 which he sold to Thomas Gordon who sold it to John Dunlop in 1794.
William Petrikin opened the first store in Bellefonte in 1797. Linns History has a list of people who were customers
and Benner is not on it.
John Dunlop developed the Bellefonte Academy and every noted person of the county, except for Philip Benner and
Patton, were involved in it.
The son in-law of Benner, John Blair Linn, wrote Linn’s History, wrote 16 pages on the history of Bellefonte. The
total usage of the name Benner was that someone named Benner may have had a store.
I attended an historical meeting where someone discussed John Blair Linn. Someone said something about another
Linn and the speaker remarked there was another Linn living in Bellefonte who he knew nothing about. How can you
know anything about the history of Bellefonte and not know that a Linn was married to a daughter of one of the
founders and served as pastor there for over 50 years and had a son, which Linn Street was named after who became a
judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
What do you know about Mary Orbison? Mary was the inventor of the Talleyrand story. She was the granddaughter
of Ann Harris, wife of James Harris, and wrote a history of Bellefonte. She states that her grandmother, Mary Harris,
told her when she was a small child the story that she produced. I did not know that young children could remember a
strange name for forty years especially since she could not remember her grandmothers’ name was Ann and not Mary.
The pamphlet also has some other silly things in it.
Unfortunately there have also been people from this area that should have been national heroes who are
virtually unknown.
John Dunlop was the creator of Bellefonte and its history. Dunlop wasn’t the first person to realize the value of
developing an iron works in Centre County. He was the first to make plans before he leaped. John Dunlop’s brother
In-law, John Harris, was a neighbor of William Lamb who sold his business and land to Thomas Gordon in 1788, and
realized the value of the iron that was there. He kept the land that would become Bellefonte and returned to the
Bellefonte area when the Dunlop connection came here.
Dunlop’s plans included finding people to invest money and land they had acquired which was given them as payment
for their service in the Revolutionary War. Dr Benjamin Rush was one of his biggest investors and probably is
responsible for John Dunlop owning 40,000 acres in the area called Rush Township. Dunlop also developed the best
possible work force according to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was noted as saying that people who have been held in
bondage would work like madmen when freed.
Remember lawyers will follow money. Because of the planning, it was easy for people to visualize the wealth that was
going to be made here. Many prominent lawyers and politicians came to the Centre County area.
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Have you ever wondered how it was possible for such a small area to do something that has never happened before or
afterward, even for areas with millions of people, and that is control the Pennsylvania Governor’s office for most of 50
years. During that same period, a brother of one of the Governors and another ex county resident were Governors of
Kansas and California.
Why do I say John Dunlop should be a national hero? Because he created a society where all races and sex were
created equal long before the Civil War and women’s rights. Without his planning, Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin
would likely not have been in a position to become governor.
Andrew Gregg Curtin has to have been the most forgotten person there was when it came to his involvement with
Abraham Lincoln. There was a writer, A. K. McClure, who probably had the best credentials to write information on
most any issue. He served as writer, editor and publisher of large newspapers at one time.
McClure wrote; “Lincoln and Men of Wartime” which many felt it was the best book ever written on Lincoln and the
Civil War. His one problem was that his proof of communications with Lincoln and Curtin where destroyed when his
home burned. Why did his home burn? It was destroyed when the confederacy burned Chambersburg. Why did the
South want to destroy Chambersburg? The reason the South came to Chambersburg was to capture McClure and
destroy his home. Why? Because McClure had defended John Brown the leader of John Brown’s raid on southern
troops.
With today’s technology there is now evidence that makes information in “Lincoln and Men of Wartime” verifiable.
All his communications with Lincoln are in the Library of Congress as well as communications between Lincoln and
Curtin.
When reading the book you must make notes on all communications between Lincoln, Curtin and McClure so that
your final information packet will remind you of everything. Reading the book without doing this would not give you
a complete history since there are important things that don’t seem to be important.
My reason for reading this book was that a friend of mine gave me a copy of this book when I was looking for
information on Curtin. I knew there was a connection between him and Lincoln and when I first read it I really didn’t
think much about the information I read. I do have an inquisitive mind and there were eventually thoughts that made
me go back and take notes.
Today with what I have learned I know the Lincoln Memorial needs some alterations. A statue of Curtin needs to be
placed next to Lincoln with Curtin’s hand on Lincoln’s shoulder.
Two reasons that Curtin needs to be recognized. Pennsylvania was a Democratic state and the only hope that Curtin
had of winning was to have support of the Republican presidential candidate, and Lincoln was the only one who would
do that. Lincoln also knew that to win the presidency he had to win Pennsylvania and without a Republican Governor
it could not happen. Curtin is the person that convinced the Pennsylvania delegation to support Lincoln which
convinced other state delegates to switch to Lincoln.
Curtin also saved the North by disobeying his Commander in Chief’s order. General Montgomery wired Curtin asking
him to recruit a large number of troops. He wired Lincoln asking for permission. Unfortunately Lincoln had made
Simon Cameron Secretary of War against both Curtin and McClure's wishes. One reason was that Cameron hated
Curtin and was very jealous of Curtin and told Lincoln we did not need the troops.
Eight months later the battle of Bull Run occurred and we lost. Lincoln wired Curtin telling him to raise the troops as
soon as he could. Curtin wired back immediately that they were ready to march. If those troops had been on the
battlefield instead of Harrisburg, there is a strong possibility it would have been a short war. From that time forward
Lincoln made no war decisions without consulting Curtin and McClure. There were other times Curtin made Lincoln
look good.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE BELLEFONTE’S SECRET BY E-MAIL, OR KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WHO
WOULD LIKE A MONTHLY COPY SENT TO THEM, SEND AN EMAIL ADDRESSED TO: [email protected]”
Questions or comments on historical items can also be sent to [email protected] also. You newsletter is a little
early this month since I am going away until May 2 and will reply to your requests after that.
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“BELLEFONTE’S ‘INVISIBLE’ HOMES"
by Rev. Keith G. Koch
Ecclesiastes 1:11 "There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that
are to come with those that shall come after."
Bellefonte is an incredible town. It has a great history with many very interesting homes and buildings.
However, some of Bellefonte’s older homes are "invisible." That is, some of them are no longer homes, but
are now used for other purposes. And some homes are really "invisible" because they no longer exist. In this
article, I would like to present a few of these "invisible homes" around our town to help us visualize their
locations.
Note, that my examples are just that - examples - and not a complete listing. Also, they are listed in no
particular order.
Daniel Bush built a number of places in Bellefonte (the Bush Arcade, Bush House Hotel, etc.), but he also
built a very large house for his family in 1865 – a 2-1/2 story Victorian home with a large wrap around
porch. This house would be the first home in Bellefonte that had central heating. Later, it would be turned
into the Markland Hotel. Today, after modifications, it is the meeting place of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
129 S. Spring Street.
Dr. Robert G. H. Hayes, before 1878, had a fine Victorian home that he later turned into Bellefonte’s first
hospital with his "surgical room" located on the second floor. It now has apartments on the 2nd floor and
offices for Watermark Church and Dr. Candace Covey on the first floor. 130 E. Spring Street.
While we are on Spring Street, note the former home of David M. Wagner, built in 1870. It was a 2 story
brick home and in 1923 became the showroom for Decker Motors. It is now a painted white office building
on the SW corner of Spring & High Streets.
Of course the oldest home actually located in the Borough of Bellefonte (1795), belonged to Col. James
Dunlop. Made of limestone and added to later, it was also used as a courtroom and jail until those were built
a block away. Today, you will find apartments on the upper floors, offices on the first floor (including Care
For People and Bellefonte Secrets) and Cool Beans in the basement. 145 W. High Street.
Captain Joseph Miles, in 1814-15, built a 2-story limestone Georgian home. In 1830, it would become the
home of William Wilson Potter. Then the Edward C. Humes’ family would call this home for over 50 years.
Later, in 1895 or 98, this very heavy house would be lifted up four feet and move back about 12 feet from the
curb to make room for a big porch and modified to have a modern, at that time, Victorian look. I don’t know
how workers lifted that large stone house, but I have seen photos of its move and if your look closely at the
present foundation stones, you will discover that they are "newer" and of a different color than the older
house stones. Today, this is the home of the Centre County Library & Historical Museum. 203 N. Allegheny
Street.
During 1825, the Benner home was erected. A beautiful 2-1/2 story, 5 bay, Georgian house, built of local
limestone. (It is quite possible that this home was erected earlier by John Dunlop.) In 1933, it was taken
down to make room for the new G. C. Murphy Store. Today you will discover a building that has the
FaithCentre upstairs and the Y.M.C.A. Annex in the basement. 110 W. High Street.
Former Governor Andrew Gregg Curtain had a beautiful 2-1/2 story limestone house built on W. High
Street in 1868. It was made in the, then fashionable, Italianate design. However, in the early 20th century, a
large stone-pillared porch was added. These stones were taken from a destroyed railroad bridge, which
crossed Spring Creek. Today, this is the lodge-home of the Bellefonte Elks.120 W. High Street.
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Mr. Brockerhoff has an important name in Bellefonte. He would come here in 1825 and open a hotel and two
business blocks of buildings. It is hard to fathom that this German born man was Napoleon’s personal
secretary before coming to America. He had a very nice home built in 1838 – a 2-1/2 story, 5 bay, Georgian
home of limestone. It was demolished during 1961 to make a gas station. Today, its location is the Smokers
Express. 141 W. Bishop Street. Though Bellefonte didn’t want this home, those in Harrisburg realized its
importance and preserved the entrance doorway which can be seen at the William Penn Museum.
Roland Curtin also had a very nice 2-1/2 story limestone home. After his death, this home was used as a
bank, a store, and a gas station. During 1932 it was destroyed to make room for Bellefonte’s new post office,
NE corner of Howard & Allegheny Streets.
Mr. G. M. Andrew’s stone home on the NW corner of Howard and Allegheny Streets was removed in 1932
to make a gas station (Weiser Garage) and a Chevrolet dealership. Later the A&P food store would call this
home. Today, our Centre County Library will welcome you to this location.
P. Gray Meek, owner/editor of one of Bellefonte’s newspapers, would have a very large Victorian home with
beautiful fencing around his property. But in 1971, this home would be replaced by a municipal parking lot
by the CVS Drug Store, W. High & Potter Streets.
In 1941, the 2-1/2 story, 3 bay, stone house called "The Brant House," was destroyed to make room for a
Sunoco gas station. Later, this would become Mike’s Movies & Music and today it is the home of Pure
Imagination Toys, NE corner of Bishop & Allegheny Streets.
Reuben B. Valentine and his family were living in Dunlop’s "Forge House" when in May, 1830, an explosion
in Bellefonte Forge’s counting house killed several people, including their 5 or 6 year old son, George.
Reuban’s wife, Sarah (nee Downing), no longer wanted to live across from the Forge since it reminded her of
this tragic accident. Therefore, Reuben bought a lot on the NE corner of Howard & Allegheny Streets and
had another big stone house built. This house is quite possibly the same house mentioned above which later
belonged to or next to Roland Curtin’s home. It may also be the house that is just to the right of the present
Bellefonte Post Office.
I am not recommending in this article that all older homes be preserved or kept no matter how old they are.
But some of our "invisible homes" had a great history with important Bellefonte names attached to them.
Somehow it seems a shame that more of them are no longer around to remind us of Bellefonte’s great past
and people
Isaiah 46:9 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,"
---------------------MORE BELLEFONTE, PA SECRETS:
There once was a large "Indian Mound" in Bellefonte. During 1927, it was leveled and nowhere can I find that any
Native American artifacts from it were preserved. These mounds usually were burial places and normally had various
sacred items and other implements honored there. This area would become Claster’s Building & Lumber Company,
which was destroyed in 2002. Today it is the "new" extension to Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park.
Dick Knupp and I had a great time in Bellefonte’s Middle School and the Bellefonte Area High School as we taught
various classes about their local history – Bellefonte’s importance to the U.S. Air Mail from New York to Chicago
during 1918-1927.
You may not believe this, but there was a real live camel in Talleyrand Park last month. And it had curly hair!
You may contact me: [email protected] or 110 Forge Rd., Bellefonte. PA 16823-8678
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Answers to the April Quiz:
Question 1: Why was Sayers Dam built? It was built as a flood control system and has performed well.
Question 2: Why was the Poe Valley Park built? It was developed as a work place for CCC camp workers.
Question 3: Is Poe Valley named after Edgar Allen Poe? It is named after General James Potter’s son
inlaw.
Question 4: Where in Centre County is there a railroad tunnel? The two tunnels are connected by bridge
over Penns Creek between Coburn and Ingeble.
Question 5: Where was the first Centre County airport that serviced air lines? The Moshannon Airport.
Question 6: Where was the first Nuclear reactor built in Central Pennsylvania? Quehanna near Karthaus.
Question 7: Why was the stadium at Penn State called Beaver Stadium? In honor of Pa Governor Beaver
who played a major role in developing of the Penn State College.
Question 8: Who was the first president of Penn State? Evan Pugh.
Question 9: On what street in Bellefonte did the first president of Penn State have his house built?
At 223 W. Curtin Street one block West of Gov. Beaver’s home.
There will not be May Quiz.
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BELLEFONTE SECRET SHOPPING
A Flower Basket 633 E Howard Street 355-4786 Floral arrangements and plants.
Alley Cat Quilt Works 107 E. High Street 814-357-9178
Bob’s Coins, 122 W Bishop Street, 814- 355-3015 Collectable Coins & Cards
Campanis Orthopedic Shoes, 148 S Allegheny 814-355-1806, Also high quality regular shoes.
Capperella Furniture, 660 Pleasant Valley Blvd., 814-355-4857
CO 2 Next Door, More gifts for special people, www.confersjewlers.com
Confer’s Jewelers, 100 N Allegheny St 355-8836, Gifts for special people, www.confersjewlers.com
Creekside Rock and Gem 110 N Allegheny 355-7625,Polishes precious stones and jewelry.
Dollar General, Corner of Spring & Bishop, 814-355-7196
Faith Centre Thrift Store, 110 W High Street, 814-355-2238
Formalities, Pleasant View Blvd. 814-357-2060, Your Formal Attire Store
J&E Guns 110 E. High Street, 814-357-8284
M & M Copy Service, 137 W High Street 814-355-7290, One or many copies at a good price.
Mattress World, 135 S Spring St, 814-355-0845
Parrish Apothecary Shop, 114 N. Allegheny, 814- 355-2914
Plaza Center Antiques, 124 W High Street, 814- 357-4870, Bellefonte’s largest selection of antiques and
collectables.
Plumbs Drug Store, 105 N Allegheny St, 814- 355-3255
Pure Imagination Corner O Allegheny & Bishop 814-355-1134 Toys from the past.
Rent A Center 111 N Allegheny Street 814-355-7500 Home furnishings.
Shehan House Miniature Dollhouse and Gift Shop 210 W High Street, 814-777-6014 Dollhouses,
Miniatures and Unique Handcrafted gifts made in Pennsylvania.
Swopes Sweepers & Sleepers Repairs & Sales of Sweepers 103 S Allegheny, 814-357-0188
Tempest Studios, 106 W Bishop Street 353-0748 www.tempeststudios.org, A theatre & performing arts
The Black Cat 102 S Allegheny 355-2060, Antique, Hobby & Craft Store.
Tussey Mountain Outfitters, 308 W Linn, 814-355-5690 , www.tusseymountainoutfitters.com, Training,
rental and sales.
Victorian House Antiques, Located next to the Bellefonte Wok, 814-355-1614, Furniture from the distant
past.
Victorian Rose S Allegheny Street Pretty Gifts for the Home and Office. (New location)
Victorian Sign & Graphics, 130 Dunlop Street, 814-353-8320
Window World, 219 W. High Street, 814-357-0133
Wireless Made Simple, 131 S Allegheny St, 814-353-8858
Food and Dining
The Governors Pub: 211 W. High Street, upscale dining, Lunch and Dinner 814-353-1008
Andy’s on the Go Café: 685 Pleasant View Blvd. 814-355-8584, Takeout meals.
Diamond Deli: 103 N Allegheny Street., 814-353-3354,Breakfast, lunch and snacks. Meetings and groups.
Café on the Park: 325 W High Street. Breakfast, lunch or snacks. Meetings and groups served.
Bellefonte Wok: 114 S Allegheny 814-353-8888, Chinese Buffet or regular Chinese meals.
Cool Beans Coffee & Tea: 141 W High Street 814-355-1178 Coffee and sandwich shop with a flair.
Dairy Queen, 101 S Allegheny, 814- 355-0448, Cool treats that can’t be beat.
Gamble Mill: 160 Dunlop Street. 814-355-7764, Upscale Dining
Bonfatto’s: 205 Park Place, 814- 353-3330, Italian cuisine, sandwiches, or a moment to relax. Bar service.
Jim’s Italian Cuisine: 204 East Cherry Lane 814-355-2169, Behind the Undine Fire Company, just off of E Bishop Street.
Waffle Shop: 127 W Bishop, 814- 355-7761, Breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Hot Dog House: 745 Willowbank Street, 814- 355-9910, Sandwiches with sides. Special hotdog sauce.
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Subway Sandwiches and Salads: 216 W. High Street 814-353-0335
Burger King: 901 E Bishop Street. 814-355-4265
Hublersburg Inn: Downtown Hublersburg - 449 Hublersburg Road - 814-383-2616. Large or small groups.
Maria’s Italian Restaurant and Pizza: 202 N Water Street 355-1121,Dine in or take out.
Pizza Mia; 106 N Spring Street - 814-355-3738, Dine in, take out, or home delivery.
Brothers NY Style Pizzaria: 102 N Allegheny 814-355-5581. Dine in, Take out, or home delivery.
Mamma Lucrezias Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant: 136 S Allegheny 814-353-1200
Mount Nittany Inn: 814-364-9365, Fine dining with a view, Top of the mountain on Route 144.
Hofbrau: 108 E Bishop Street, 814- 355-5529 Sandwiches, Pizza and more with full bar service
Pizza Hut: 1074 E Bishop Street 814- 355-5160
Home Delivery Pizza Pub: 1796 Zion Road 357-8399, Full service, light meals or take out and home delivery.
Red Horse Tavern: 104 N. Main Street, Pleasant Gap, 814-359-2082
Sunset West Restaurant: 521 E. College Avenue, Pleasant Gap, 814-359-2783, Home Style Cooking.
The Mountain Valley Diner: 1850 S. Eagle Valley Road, Wingate.814-355-1221.
BED & BREAKFAST-----------------------------------------------------McCafferty House B&B: 441 N Spring Street, 814-355-9458, www.mccaffertyhouse.com
Our Fair Lady: 313 E Linn Street, 814-355-1117 www.ourfairladybnb.com
Riffles & Runs B&B 217 N Spring Street 814-353-8109, www.rifflesandruns.bellefonte.com
The Barnard House: 113 E Linn Street, 814-353-8647, [email protected]
Reynolds Mansion: 101 E Linn Street, 1-800-899-3929, www.reynoldsmansion.com
Judge Walker’s House: 337 E. Linn Street, 814-355-0591, www.JudgeWalkersHouse.com
The Queen A Victorian B&B: 176 E Linn Street, 814-355-7946 www.queenbnb.com
The Willows B&B: 704 Willowbank Street, 814-355-1943, [email protected]
Recreation Facility:
The Cottage at Black Moshannon: [email protected], www.thecottageatblackmoshannon.com, or
Howie at 814-883-8808
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