The town that would become Bellefonte began as a modest settlement surrounding a mill owned by William Lamb. John Dunlop bought the mill in 1794. Dunlop’s father, James Dunlop and his brother-in-law, James Harris, laid out a more formal town in 1795.

Vast hardwood forests, easily accessible limestone and iron ore, along with large quantities of water from an abundant natural spring and a broad stream made this place ideal to produce iron. The town flourished and soon became a center of law and commerce. With multiple newspapers publishing daily and weekly editions, the residents were well informed and politically active. Bellefonte was the most influential town between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, eventually being home to seven governors, five of Pennsylvania, one of California and one of Kansas.

One of those governors, Andrew Gregg Curtin, was an ardent supporter of President Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers, Curtin established a training camp in Harrisburg and began organizing regiments. Just after the attack on Fort Sumter, a patriotic crowd gathered at the courthouse in the center of town. When those who wanted to volunteer expressed concern over how their families would survive their absence, attendees pledged money from $10-300, raising $4,438 from 65 individuals to support families of volunteers. Within three days Bellefonte’s residents had raised $6,900 for family support.

Militia units, including The Bellefonte Fencibles, Eagle Guards, Cameron Infantry and Curtin Guards departed to Harrisburg. There they were assigned to 90-day infantry regiments. As time went on, volunteers from throughout the county traveled to Harrisburg for assignment and training at Camp Curtin.

When Lincoln called for 300,000 more troops, Curtin stove to fill Pennsylvania’s quota. On August 2, 1862, there was a mass gathering in Bellefonte. The town’s prominent businessmen and other wealthy residents agreed to pay a bounty of $50, worth about $1,500 today, to each recruit.

Centre County raised seven companies, more than 700 volunteers. Centre County troops joined companies from Jefferson, Indiana and Clarion counties to form the 148th Pennsylvania Infantry, known as the “Centre County Regiment.” Curtin appointed Bellefonte resident, James Addams Beaver, as the regiment’s colonel.

As listed on the148 th monument at Gettysburg, they fought at Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, Auburn, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Bristoe Station, Deep Bottom, Mine Run, Ream’s Station, Wilderness, Petersburg, Spotsylvania, Hatcher’s Run, North Anna, South Side Railroad, Totopotomy, Farmville and Appomattox. All told, 13 officers and 190 men were killed or mortally wounded, four officers and 170 men died of disease, 28 officers and 512 men were wounded, four officers and 168 men were captured or missing. Such was the fate of 1,089 of the 1,370 men of the 148th.

Another 28 Centre County men served in the US Colored Troops. Their names appear on the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in front of the Centre County Courthouse and several are buried a few blocks away in Bellefonte’s Union Cemetery.

Not all supported Lincoln. In response to the 1863 draft law, protestors marched to the Courthouse. Peter Gray Meek, editor and publisher of one of Bellefonte’s more prominent newspapers, took a very vocal anti-war stance. He was arrested for treason and discouraging enlistment five times but never came to trial.

By war’s end in 1865, many Centre Countians were counted among the wounded or killed. Surviving veterans held reunions and joined the Grand Army of the Republic posts. As GAR members, they marched in patriotic parades and provided relief to veterans and their families.
Today, Bellefonte’s population is just over 6,000 people living in about 2,800 households within the Borough. The area enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates in Pennsylvania. As the county seat, Bellefonte counts employees at all levels of government among its residents and the largest employers are in education, medicine and skilled manufacturing.

Highlighted by the beautiful open spaces of Talleyrand Park and The Waterfront, today’s Bellefonte boasts a walkable downtown full of Victorian architecture, with many restaurants and shops to be enjoyed by residents and visitors.