Editing Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (section)

== Bellefonte Historic District ==
The [[Bellefonte Historic District]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1977. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places are: [[Bellefonte Armory]], [[Bellefonte Forge House]], [[Brockerhoff Hotel]], [[Centre County Courthouse]], [[Gamble Mill]], [[McAllister-Beaver House]], [[Miles-Humes House]], [[Pennsylvania Match Company]], [[South Ward School (Bellefonte, Pennsylvania)|South Ward School]], and the [[William Thomas House]]. [[Bellefonte Academy]] was listed until 2008; it was destroyed by fire in 2004.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

=== Bush House Hotel ===
{{Main|Bush House Hotel}}
[[Bush House Hotel]] was built in 1868-69 by Bellefonte attorney and developer Daniel G. Bush. It was one of the first hotels in the country to have electric lights. A man would stand at the train station and call out to the passengers, "Walk ya' to the Bush House." The Brockerhoff House, the Haag House, and other area hotels were competitors.  Many notable guests stayed at the Bush House including [[Thomas Edison]].<ref>[http://www.bellefonte.com/heritage/bushhousefacts.html bushhousefacts] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707222846/http://www.bellefonte.com/heritage/bushhousefacts.html |date=July 7, 2011 }}. Bellefonte.com (2006-02-08). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.</ref>  The Bush House burned down on February 8, 2006.<ref>[http://www.bellefontearts.org/Virtual_walk/Bush_House.htm A Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: The Bush House]. Bellefontearts.org (2006-02-08). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.</ref>

=== The Cadillac Building ===
This building was designed by pioneering female architect [[Anna Keichline|Anna Wagner Keichline]], a native of Bellefonte, and originally served as a car dealership with a showroom on first floor, a repair shop on the second, and an office and living space on the third floor. The Cadillac Building, so named because it was originally built as a Cadillac dealership in 1916, was a mix use commercial and residential property hit by a devastating fire on December 22, 2009. Christmas tree lights in one of the apartment units were determined to be the cause.

The Cadillac Building was rebuilt in 2016 and is now home to 11 two- and three-bedroom apartment units.  It remains a part of the Bellefonte Historic District.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.lsfiore.com/content/cadillac-and-garman-houses|title=Cadillac and Garman Houses {{!}} Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. General Contractor|website=www.lsfiore.com|access-date=2016-10-07}}</ref>

=== Garman Opera House ===
The Garman Opera House was originally built in 1890 and hosted many notable stars of the day, including [[George Burns]] and [[Gracie Allen]], [[Western (genre)|Western]] performer [[Tom Mix]], and illusionist and escape artist [[Harry Houdini]].

The song "[[After the Ball (song)|After the Ball]]" was said to have been first sung in public here.  It was eventually also used as a movie theater, first showing silent films and then "talkies."  By the early 1960s, the property was converted to primarily commercial/warehouse use.  In the 1990s, the building was restored and returned to its roots as a live performance venue and cinema.

The opera house was severely damaged by a fire on September 9, 2012 that also destroyed the Garman House Hotel.  The cause of the fire has been ruled as arson.  Preservationist groups' attempts to save the Garman were unsuccessful and the building was razed in January 2014.

Garman House was rebuilt in 2016 and is now home to 21 one and two bedroom apartment units.

=== Victorian era ===
First-time visitors who walk along the Victorian streets of Bellefonte see primarily Victorian houses.  One of many examples is the Hastings Mansion, which was owned by Mrs. John Lane and was bought and remodeled by Governor Daniel H. Hastings.

In the 1800s, the first jail was built. It had a dungeon eight feet underground, which was located on the rear of the lot of the present YMCA. A second jail was on East High Street.

=== Renaissance ===
One of the town's historic sections experienced a renaissance in 2004. The ''Match Factory'' (officially the [[Pennsylvania Match Company]]), after standing vacant since 1947, was renovated by the [[American Philatelic Society]] as their new home, one building at a time. The site was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2001.