Centre County Historical Society

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

1932 Bellefonte High School Debate Club.

Notice the setback from the corner of N. Allegheny St. and W. Linn Street with Reynolds Mansion in the background. Built in 1910, this building was destroyed by fire in February 1939. No names on photo.

CCHS Franco Collection, 2002.06.03, donated by Sarah (Johnson) Franco.

10/01/2026

Every membership renewed before January 1, 2027 helps to reduce printing and mailing costs associated with the annual membership campaign.

If you would like to get the jump on renewing your CCHS membership for 2027, the early renewal period is now open. Visit https://centrehistory.org/join-support/become-a-member and renew at the level you deem best.

We are grateful for your membership. Your interest and loyalty mean the world to us and make everything we do possible.

09/30/2026

Mimi Barash Coppersmith was the founder of Town & Gown magazine, a longtime community leader and volunteer, and the first woman to chair the Penn State Board of Trustees. In 1953, she earned a degree in journalism.

Beginning in 1996, Barash Coppersmith became known for her “Lunch with Mimi” column in Town & Gown, which featured interviews with notable members of the Penn State and State College communities. In 2008, she sold Barash Media but stayed on as a consultant to Town & Gown and continued her “Lunch with Mimi” column. In an interview with Town & Gown, she said, “I just want to wake up every morning ready to do what I love to do most, and that’s to help other people.” She concluded the column in September 2022.

Read more about Mimi's involvment in the community via the Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture at https://centrehistory.org/article/mimi-coppersmith/

Photo by Will Yurman for CCHS, 2015.

09/25/2026

– One final image of Centre County from the air.

The State College Air Depot was established in 1930 in Boalsburg but moved to one mile southwest of State College in 1949. The first scheduled commercial air transport in Centre County started on June 20, 1949.
Photo circa 1950, Sherm Lutz

From "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee

09/23/2026

William Fisher Packer, a native of Howard Township, served as governor of Pennsylvania during the turbulent years before the Civil War. Packer was born on April 2, 1807 and died on September 27, 1870.

Read more about Packer via the Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture at https://centrehistory.org/article/william-packer/

Photo: Early home of William F. Packer, Governor of Pennsylvania 1857-1860, located near Howard, PA. From "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee.

09/18/2026

– This and next week will feature images of Centre County from the air.

Aerial view of the Gateburg iron ore bank, which supplied Pennsylvania Furnace from 1810 to the latter part of the 19th century.
Photo circa 1950, Sherm Lutz

From "Centre County in Pictures: 1800-1950" published by the Centre County Historical Society and the Centre County Sesqui-centennial Committee

09/16/2026

Attention Gardeners! The Centre Furnace Mansion Garden Committee is hosting another plant sale on Thursday, September 17, 9AM-5PM at Centre Furnace Mansion. We hope to see you at the Manison! https://conta.cc/4xYIf81

Email from Centre County Historical Society RSVP today for September and October programs and learn about Thursday's Plant Sale!     CENTRE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Fall Thursday Plant Sales at the C

09/16/2026

The Centre Furnace Mansion Gardeners Thursday Plant Sales are back this Thursday, September 17, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (weather permitting) Perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees will be for sale while there is time before winter to acclimate them to their new home.
Thursdays are volunteer gardening days at the Mansion throughout the garden season and the Mansion Gardeners have been hard at work preparing for fall sales. Knowledgeable gardeners will be available to help you buy plants and answer questions.

09/16/2026

The Penn State Blue Band is the university’s marching band that performs at football games and other major events. The band, which is comprised of more than 300 members, is open to all students at the University Park campus.

The Blue Band began as the Cadet Bugle Corps in 1899. First-year student George Herbert Deike, who served as a regimental bugler during the Spanish-American War, was appointed by Penn State’s commandant of cadets as chief musician. Deike formed a six-member drum and bugle corps that performed for battalion drills and other college events.

Today’s Blue Band includes more than 320 members, including 270 instrumentalists, 32 silks, 14 majorettes — known as the “Touch of Blue” — a feature twirler, and a drum major.

Read more about the history of the Blue Band via the Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture at https://centrehistory.org/article/blue-band/

Photo: Aerial view of the Penn State Blue Band is spelling out "Lions" on the field at half-time. Color photo by Richard C. Miller. Natural Color Card. Published by Modern-Ad, Butler, PA. CCHS 2012.03.05