The Big Spring

"In the autumn of 1794 Colonel James Dunlop, his son John, and son-in-law, James Harris, together with their families, moved to what is now Bellefonte, Centre County, onto the land they were buying.  The following year, 1795, Colonel Dunlop and James Harris laid out the town that soon was to be known as the town of the Big Spring, upon the Griffith Gibbon warrantee.  This would become Bellefonte.

Undoubtedly, the Big Spring inspired someone to name the town, Bellefonte, whether it was Mrs. James Harris or Talleyrand.  A tradition that has been verified to some extent in recent years affords an explanation for the naming of Bellefonte.  In Talleyrand's "Memoirs," published in 1892, he alludes to a visit to the interior of Pennsylvania and to a letter in introduction, given him by Hon. Samuel Mendenhall to "Colonel John Patton in County".  The accepted theory is that when Talleyrand made this visit to Colonel Patton's he was also a dinner guest at the Harrises.  Mrs. Harris, daughter of the older founder and wife of the younger, took their guests to see the great spring.  An exclamation of Talleyrand's "Belle Fonte!" upon seeing the spring, suggested the name to Mrs. Harris as one fitting for the new village.

The spring which has made Bellefonte famous discharges each minute about fourteen thousand gallons of water.  Between the extremes of heat and cold, the temperature of the water varies but two degrees, or from fifty-two to fifty degrees."

From December lst, 1807 the Bellefonte borough had the right and privilege of using the water from the Big Spring, with certain reservations.  However, it was not until July 1823, that the Town Council received the deed from James and Nancy Harris legalizing the above privilege.

The following deed is the copy as found in Deed Book G of Centre County, p. 404

Deed James Harris to Town Council of Bellefonte

Know all men by these presents, that we, James Harris of Spring Township in Centre County and State of Pennsylvania, and Nancy his wife, for, and on account of, the good will they entertain toward the Borough of Bellefonte and its inhabitants, have given, granted, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, enfeoff and confirm into the Town Council of Bellefonte, for the use of the Inhabitants of said Borough, the right and privilege of raising and conveying so much of the water of the Big Spring as can, by machinery placed at, or near the head of said Spring, be made to pass through a pipe of three inches in diameter, the bore (not to be used toward the working of any steam engine), subject, however, to the restrictions and reservations mentioned and contained in the deed of James Smith and Eliza his wife to this grantor, dated December first, 1807, and entered in the office for recording of deeds, in and for Centre County aforesaid, on the twelfth day of December, 1807, in Book C, page 66.  To have and to hold the right and privilege hereby granted, or meant or intended so to be subject to the reservations and restrictions above mentioned to them, the Town Council of Bellefonte and their successors in office, for the use and benefit of the inhabitants thereof forever.

In witness whereof the said grantors have hereunto set their hands and seals, this 24th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three.

James Harris
Nancy Harris

Entered 14th February, 1826.

W. Pettit, Recorder

Over the years, Col. William F. Reynolds acquired much property in Bellefonte.  Some of his holdings were in the area of the Big Spring with some of the deeds including water rights.  In an act of generosity and a desire to eliminate any possible confusion, on Monday, October 6, 1879 Col. Reynolds transferred all his right, title and interest in the Big Spring property and grounds surrounding it to the Town Council for the use of the people of Bellefonte.

The Water works was built in 1808. The first reservoir had a small capacity and was built where the Bellefonte Academy now stands, which is over two hundred feet above the level of the spring. At that time the town was supplied with water through an inch and a half pipe.

Excerpts From: A History of the Founding and Development of Our Town During the Period from 1795 to 1835

Thesis By Ruth Inez Kapp, State College, PA submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts and published by courtesy of the Department of History of the Pennsylvania State College.

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