Bellefonte Academy
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The Bellefonte Academy once was an historic school that operated at this location from the early 1800s until the Great Depression. The beautiful limestone structure was later converted into an apartment building, home to numerous residents of the city until a fire destroyed 75% of the building in 2004. A leading private academy, the school educated more governors, judges, and senators that any other in Pennsylvania during the 19th century.
Images
The Academy was a leading institution from 1805 until it closed during the Great Depression
The gate heading up to the headmasters house. This is all that is left after the fire in 2004.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Bellefonte city founders James Dunlop and James Harris worked to create an elite academy of learning in their city in the early 1800s. In 1805, the Pennsylvania Legislature approved the charter for what would become the Bellefonte Academy.
Reverend James R Hugh served as headmaster of the Academy from 1868 to 1900. He was succeeded by his son James Hugh, who operated the school until it had to temporarily close during the leanest years of the Great Depression.
Not only was the Academy known for its excellence in education but also for its excellence in sports. In 1908 the Academy beat Penn State in football which lead the team to go to the playoffs and eventually win the National Prep School Championship.
The Academy educated numerous governors and politicians, including Andrew Curtin and Rev John Palmer. The Academy caught on fire in 1904, but the school trustees were able to not only repair the damage, but add a third floor to the building along with an improvement to the front of the building. After the Great Depression, the building was converted into an apartment building. After the building was destroyed by fire in 2004, the only physical structure remaining from the historic school is the former headmasters house.
Reverend James R Hugh served as headmaster of the Academy from 1868 to 1900. He was succeeded by his son James Hugh, who operated the school until it had to temporarily close during the leanest years of the Great Depression.
Not only was the Academy known for its excellence in education but also for its excellence in sports. In 1908 the Academy beat Penn State in football which lead the team to go to the playoffs and eventually win the National Prep School Championship.
The Academy educated numerous governors and politicians, including Andrew Curtin and Rev John Palmer. The Academy caught on fire in 1904, but the school trustees were able to not only repair the damage, but add a third floor to the building along with an improvement to the front of the building. After the Great Depression, the building was converted into an apartment building. After the building was destroyed by fire in 2004, the only physical structure remaining from the historic school is the former headmasters house.
Sources
http://www.bellefontearts.org/Smith_pages/Smith_academy.html
http://www.bellefontesecrets.com/newsletters/secretsJan10.pdf