MILLHEIM — Millheim resident Ralph Gray, a retired Penns Valley High School mathematics teacher, is putting the finishing touches on his second book in as many years. His new offering, “The School on the Hill,” tells the nearly 200-year history of the Bellefonte Academy, a prestigious prep school located in Bellefonte.
Gray derived much of his historical data for his book from local historian Harry Breon, who had done extensive research on the school’s history. Gray’s book contains a history of the academy, with a focus on its excellent athletic programs, particularly football.
Gray said the academy was originally constructed in 1805 on land donated by Bellefonte founders James Dunlop and his son-in-law John Harris. The two-story building was erected on a bluff overlooking the Big Spring. In 1806, the state granted $2,000 toward its construction with the provision that six children from poor families be given a free two-year education each year.
Additions were added in the 1840s, and again in 1873. Fire destroyed the upper floor in 1904, but restorations were made in time for the fall term. The structure was completely destroyed by fire in 1913, and was rebuilt and expanded to 200 feet long using stone from the hill where it sat. The academy reopened six months later for the 1913-14 school year.
In 1912, the school opened its athletic complex on East Bishop Street. The complex featured ball fields, a cinder track, tennis courts, a skating rink and a huge 300-by-80-foot swimming pool, which was the largest in the state.
In 1921, another fire erupted in the building’s attic, and could not be extinguished by the Bellefonte fire companies due to lack of water pressure, but was saved from total destruction by firefighters from the Lock Haven Fire Company who arrived with a pumper truck. Damages far exceeded insurance coverage, and the school struggled to stay afloat, finally closing in 1933. It was purchased in 1934 at a sheriff’s sale, and remained empty until 1939, when the Bellefonte High School used it for classes for two years after a fire in that school. In 1946, the building was converted into 33 apartments by its owner, Harry Tanney, and served until its final demise by fire in 2004, nearly 200 years after its beginning.
Gray’s book contains a list of prominent attendees, and chronicles the school’s sports program, introduced by headmaster James P. Hughes in 1890, and its rise to national prominence under the leadership of his son, James R. Hughes.
Gray said the Bellefonte Academy football team won national prep school championships three consecutive years from 1924 to 1926. The 1924 team outscored its nine opponents by a 456-0 margin, the greatest number of points scored by a college, normal, prep or high school that year. Their 25-yard line was not crossed by any opponent all season. In those three years, the Bellefonte Academy football team outscored its opponents 1,362-56 while coached by Carl G. Snavely, who later coached at Bucknell and Cornell universities.
Gray said the Bellefonte Academy football team played against large high school teams, such as Williamsport and Altoona, as well as college freshman and reserve teams, and in 1908, played — and defeated — the Penn state varsity team.
“This was the varsity, not the freshman team,” said Gray. “That’s in the record books — they beat Penn State.”
Gray said he plans to send the book out to be printed in February, and has scheduled a release and book signing event for Friday, April 15, at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum.
