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Centre Daily Times July 13, 2005
A year after the fire, Academy lives on in local lore
By Rich Kerstetter; rkerstet@centredaily.com
"The founders of Bellefonte were mindful of the important interests of public education, historian John Blair Linn informed his readers in the definitive 1883 work "History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania."
"And in practical illustration of their sentiments," Linn continued, "(they) set apart in 1800 for the support of an academy or public school, certain lots and lands in and adjoining the town of Bellefonte."
The Bellefonte Academy -- which burned to the ground one year ago -- was incorporated Jan. 8, 1805. The first board of trustees of the famed "School in the Mountains" included James Dunlop, Roland Curtin, Andrew Gregg, James Potter, Jacob Hosterman, Richard Miles and Robert Boggs.
The Academy was said to be one of the finest prep schools in the land and "contributed a measure of distinction for Bellefonte in the 19th century," Ruth Inez Kapp wrote in "Bellefonte: Its Founding and Development from 1795 to 1835."
"Bellefonte Academy in this period was a fair specimen of an old-fashioned classical school," Kapp said.
Quoting James P. Wickersham's "History of Education," Kapp described the curriculum: "Latin in the morning, and Latin and Greek in the afternoon. Latin and Greek on Monday and Greek and Latin on Tuesday. Wednesday brought the same studies and Thursday the same. And Friday, 'repetition day' as it was called, a review of the whole week's previous study."
Not all was academic drudgery, however. The Bellefonte Academy football team achieved national recognition in the 1920s, playing as far afield as Texas and Oklahoma and capturing a national championship in mid-decade.
Tragedy had struck the school two decades earlier, however, when on June 19, 1904, fire nearly destroyed the institution and building that, even a century ago, was called "historic."
"For a while ... it looked as if the historic old Bellefonte Academy, that has stood silent sentinel on the crest of lime ledge for more than a hundred years, and has been the seat of learning for men of affairs scattered all over the globe, would be reduced to smouldering blackened ruins," the weekly Democratic Watchman reported.
The fire "was discovered shortly before 7 o'clock in the morning by persons who saw smoke curling out of the belfry tower," and the Academy's very design proved to be a hindrance to firefighters, according to the Democratic Watchman.
"When the building was remodeled, some years ago, every inch of space was utilized and there were so many angles and alcoves as to make the location of the flames both perilous and uncertain work, so that a great deal of destruction was wrought by the water as well as the pick-ax," the reporter wrote.
The damage was severe: "The entire third floor and roof are in ruins, ... the students' rooms, only recently refurnished, carpeted and papered are completely wrecked, ... (and) the primary department room, especially, (which) has just been remodeled and put in beautiful condition for the fall term ... is in a sorry state of dilapidation now."
But Principal James P. Hughes and Headmaster James R. Hughes vowed immediately to rebuild the Academy.
"It was really not a surprise to discover that neither one seemed discouraged," the Watchman reported, "for they have such indomitable faith in the Academy and so much hope in themselves that they looked upon it as a blessing in disguise."
Indeed, the school's "Catalogue" for 1930-31 proclaimed, "The fire of July 1904 resulted in the erection of a beautiful building of Grecian architecture, provided with fire escapes of the most improved pattern."
Those escape routes were needed, as fire struck again on multiple occasions over the years, with another tragic blaze -- July 14, one year ago -- writing the Academy's final chapter long after it had been converted into apartments.
Recently, the property was put up for sale and borough officials reported receiving at least one inquiry from a prospective buyer interested in building condominiums on the hill.
While the Academy could not withstand last year's tragedy, the story of the first fire had a happier ending, as the Democratic Watchman reported on July 22, 1904:
"Just when conditions seemed most hopeless the work of the firemen became most effective and the building was saved before it was beyond the possibility of repair."
July 2004 Fire
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