1155 Zion Road Bellefonte 814-353-2390 www. habitatgcc. org
Spotlight on:
Bellefonte
Everyone’ s from somewhere. If you’ re running for an office, no matter what office, you have to live somewhere while doing it. And out of forty-five Pennsylvania governors, five of them have been from Bellefonte. There’ s a monument showing them all in Tallyrand Park: William Byler, William F. Packer, Andrew Curtin, James A. Beaver, and Daniel Hastings. All Pennsylvania governors, all of whom lived in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Byler was a journalist who was born in Cumberland County, and moved to Bellefonte to begin his political career. Because of its central placement in the state, Bellefonte is an exceptionally good idea for this. He moved there in 1830, and lived there while he was governor, later moving to Clearfield.
Packer was born near Bellefonte. Later he moved to Williamsport, but he also served as governor. Andrew Curtin was known as Pennsylvania’ s“ war governor,” because he served as governor during the Civil War. He was born in Bellefonte and stayed there, always making it his permanent home.
James Beaver was born in Millerstown, but moved to Bellefonte as a boy, and ended up staying there. He was living in Bellefonte when he became a lawyer, when he fought in the Civil War, and his entire term as governor.
Daniel Hastings was born one county over, in Salona, Clinton County. But he got a job in McElhattan as a teacher, then moved up to another teaching job in Bellefonte, and moved there. After becoming a high school principal, he earned a law degree, and stayed in Bellefonte while he ran for governor, won, and served his term.
And, as a bonus, Bellefonte was also home to a California governor! John Bigler lived in Bellefonte for a while before moving west and winning the state of California. Even a lot of Bellefonte residents aren’ t aware of that one, which is something to remember during your next Trivial Pursuit game.
- Lou Bernard is a local writer and can be reached at loulhpa @ gmail. com.
BELLEFONTE AND ITS GOVERNORS by Lou Bernard
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Habitat welcomes all people-- regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or any other difference-- to build simple, decent, affordable houses for those who lack adequate shelter.
1155 Zion Road Bellefonte 814-353-2390 www. habitatgcc. org
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