Historic Views of One of Bellefonte’s Landmark Streets
Explore West High Street through historic photographs and postcards from the Fred D. Smith Collection. The gallery captures the street and its changing architecture over the years, including the Bush House, Elks Lodge, Petrikin Hall, Bellefonte’s first courthouse, the YMCA, historic businesses, and the former train station.
Together, these images offer a glimpse of everyday life and some of the buildings that helped shape the heart of historic Bellefonte.
West High Street from Half Moon Hill — Panoramic view up West High Street toward the Courthouse.
First YMCA — An early home at 125 West High Street, converted to the first YMCA and later replaced by the present YMCA.
First YMCA
Elks Lodge — Originally the residence of Gov. Andrew Gregg Curtin. Built in 1868, an example of Tuscan Revival architecture.
Elks Lodge — 120 West High Street
Elks Lodge — The J. M. Benner House is visible to the left. Built in 1825, it was later used as Beezer’s Meat Market and eventually replaced by G.C. Murphy.
G.C. Murphy — Under construction next to the Brockerhoff.
G.C. Murphy — Completed building, now the Faith Centre.
West High Street — 100 block, looking west.
Petrikin Hall — 136 West High Street
Petrikin Hall — WCTU stands for Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Petrikin Hall
Dunlop House (First Courthouse) — 143 West High Street. Built in two sections, the eastern in 1795 and the western in 1848. The parlor housed the first courthouse from 1800–1806.
Brisbin Home — Southwest corner of Spring and High Streets. Built in 1865, an excellent example of Italian Revival architecture.
Brisbin Home — Commercialized.
The Manse (Bank Building) — 201 West High Street. Built in 1881, with a mixture of several architectural styles.
The Manse (Bank Building)
Rev. James Linn Home — Home of the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, later replaced by The Manse.
Original Bonfatto’s — North side of West High Street
West High Street Repaving — 1946, looking west.
West High Street Repaving — 1946, looking east.
Bush Arcade — South side of the 200 block, built in the late 1880s to replace the original destroyed by fire.
Bellefonte Hardware — Northeast corner of High and Water Streets.
Bellefonte Hardware — Interior of the hardware store.
Watchman Building — Home of a Democratic newspaper across High Street from the Bush House, now part of Talleyrand Park.
Bush House and West High Street — Decorated, like the Watchman Building, for Bellefonte’s 100th anniversary.
Bush House
Bush House
Bush House
Bush House
Bush House — c. 1910, with West Water Street to the right.
The Little Store — Over the mill race, with the Bush House behind.
The Little Store — With a parade.
West High Street — Looking east from the Bush House.
West High Street — Looking east from the train station.
West High Street — c. 1910, looking east from the train station.
Bellefonte Train Station
Bellefonte Train Station
Bellefonte Train Station
Bellefonte Train Station — c. 1910, with the Lauderbach Building.
Bellefonte Train Station — c. 1910