The Enduring Legacy of Penn State: A Journey Through Time

The Pennsylvania State University, a beacon of education and research, boasts a rich and storied history. From its humble beginnings as The Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania to its current status as a world-renowned university, Penn State's evolution reflects the changing landscape of American higher education. This article delves into various facets of Penn State's past, highlighting key moments, influential figures, and iconic landmarks that have shaped the institution's identity.

Early Days and Founding

In 1855, The Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania was founded on 400 acres of land in what was Harris Township. The area, though somewhat isolated, offered affordable land and fertile soil due to the abundance of limestone in the Nittany Valley. This new institution opened its doors to its first students in 1859. At that time, the campus and surrounding town presented a stark contrast to the bustling University Park of today. The original "Old Main" served as the institution’s main building, housing the entire college including classrooms, offices and living quarters in its west wing.

The institution's location, as Edwin Sparks noted, was “equally inaccessible from all parts of the state,” posing a significant challenge to its early growth. Until George Atherton’s tenure as president, Penn State lacked a nearby railroad station. Traveling students had to rely on trains to reach the closest towns with stations, followed by buggy rides to campus. Initially, Tyrone or Bellefonte served as the primary arrival points, with Struble or Lemont becoming later alternatives. Ironically, this isolation was initially intentional, aimed at shielding students from worldly distractions.

Transformation and Growth

Evan Pugh arrived in town on a gloomy, snowy day in late October 1859 in a buggy driven by Hugh McAllister to head the institution around which the village would eventually grow - the Farmers’ High School. Pugh was responsible for changing its name to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, but he did not live to participate long in the harvest. Pugh’s legacy also includes what Vivian Doty Hench in “The History of State College, 1896-1946” explained was originally intended to be the town’s main north-south thoroughfare: Pugh Street.

The first major building program was launched in 1887 due to maintenance funds provided through the first biennial state appropriation of $100,000. Several key structures emerged during this period, marking a significant expansion of the campus infrastructure.

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Agricultural Experiment Station: Opened in 1887, this station allowed students and researchers to conduct soil tests, analyze fertilizers, identify plants, insects, and fungi, and report on samples of various agricultural products. In 1975 the building was renamed Arts Cottage and still exists today, housing studios for art students and faculty in the College of Arts and Architecture.
Old Botany: Completed in 1888, Old Botany stands as the oldest building at University Park whose exterior has not been significantly altered since its construction. It originally housed the botany department and featured an attached greenhouse for student studies on exotic plants. Students also kept a botanical garden, arranged in a series of geometric patterns in front of the building along Pollock Road.
The Women’s Building: Also known as Ladies’ Cottage, this building was completed in 1889. Located north of Old Main, where Oswald Tower is presently located, it served as the primary residence hall for women students. It was later used as temporary office space until its demolition in 1970.
The Chemistry and Physical Laboratory: Completed in 1890 and renamed Walker Laboratory in 1948 for William Hulk Walker, a graduate of 1890 and head of the Chemical Engineering Department. The building was demolished in 1969 and replaced by the existing Davey Laboratory.
The Armory: Completed in 1892, the Armory served as the site for military training. Prior to World War I, participation in the Cadet Corps was mandatory for all physically able male undergraduates. The Armory was also used for physical education, varsity athletics, and social events. The building was demolished in 1964 to make way for a new wing of Willard Building.

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Connecting to the World: The Railroad and State College

In 1892, the Bellefonte Central Railroad (BCRR) extended its tracks to State College, connecting the university and the growing community to the outside world. A 67-by-30-foot Queen Anne station was erected on the site of the current Hammond Building along College Avenue. The trip between Bellefonte and State College was scheduled to take 50 minutes with all stops for the roughly 20-mile run.

One conductor, G. Ross Parker, became a campus legend due to the train’s incredibly slow pace. Passengers would often disembark to pick flowers and berries, with the engineer slowing down for them to re-board. Livestock on the tracks was another common cause for delays.

Fred Pattee fondly recalled that Parker, when asked by some undergrads why he was stopping the train, said, “Calves on the track.”

Landmarks and Traditions

Penn State's campus is adorned with landmarks that hold historical and cultural significance. These sites serve as gathering places, symbols of tradition, and reminders of the university's rich heritage.

The Obelisk

Also called the polylith, was erected by a local stonemason in 1896 in front of the Armory and currently sits between present-day Willard and Sackett buildings. The monument, which stands more than 32 feet tall and weighs more than 50 tons, is comprised of 281 blocks of building stone from 139 different localities, mostly in Pennsylvania. The stones are arranged to represent the geologic column of rocks in the commonwealth, with the oldest rocks at the bottom and the youngest on top.

The actual origin of Penn State’s oldest monument can be traced back to the School of Mines in 1894, when Dr. Magnus C. With the help William Clinton B. Alexander, a freshman at the time, Dr. Ihlseng was able gather a variety of stones from Pennsylvania quarry operators as well as any others that wanted to contribute to the project. In total, 281 blocks of building stone from 139 different localities were collected, with most of the samples coming from Pennsylvania. The 33-foot-tall, 53-ton Obelisk was ultimately erected in 1896 by Michael Womer, a State College stonemason at the time. The stones are arranged in geological order, with the oldest rocks at the bottom and the youngest at the top.

Legends and myths have swirled around the Obelisk for much of its existence. One popular myth states that any coed virgin who walks by the Obelisk will cause it to crumble. A “Down with the Obelisk” was even held as a part of Women’s Week in April 1968 in an effort to prove that the legend was, in fact, a fallacy. Professor Emeritus of Meteorology Dr. Charles Hosler wrote, “There seems to be no doubt that Penn State students, alumni, and campus visitors do not realize the actual purpose of the Obelisk. “OBELISK - Erected in 1896 under the supervision of Professors T. C. Hopkins and M.C. Ihlseng to demonstrate the weathering of Pennsylvania building stones. The collection was made by W.E.B. Alexander, class of 1897. Subject of B.S. thesis of W.E. Affelder, class of 1899. And with that, the legend of the Obelisk faded into Penn State history.

Old Willow

Old Willow was planted on campus by Professor of Horticulture William G. Waring in 1859. The tree quickly captured students’ hearts and has become a longstanding tradition. The original tree fell during a windstorm in 1923, but its offshoots have carried on its legacy over the last 100 years. The fourth-generation Old Willow was planted on the Old Main lawn in April 2024, and saplings were also distributed to Penn State campuses and locations across the commonwealth.

The Ghost Walk

The Ghost Walk consisted of two rows of trees planted by horticulture professor William Warin in the 1860s. A path between the trees led from the rear of Old Botany to Park Avenue. Popular as a lovers' lane because of its seclusion, the Ghost Walk may have gotten its name from a 19th-century legend about a student who got lost on campus and froze during a blizzard, leading to stories of strange spirits seen at night among the row of trees. A solitary Norway Spruce remains today, standing between Old Botany and Burrowes Building.

University House

University House, was built in 1862-1864 using native stone and employing student labor, was designed by Evan Pugh, the institution’s first president. It was remodeled in 1895 and again renovated in 1940, each time with significant additions to the original plans. From 1864 to 1970, University House was home to 11 Penn State presidents. It was designated University House in 1971, to be used for official University functions.

Beaver Field

Beaver Field, Penn State’s first permanent home for football, which stood between present-day Osmond and Frear laboratories. It was named after James Beaver, then-governor of Pennsylvania and a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees. The first game at Beaver Field was played on Nov. 6, 1893, against Western University of Pittsburgh (now the University of Pittsburgh). Penn State won 32-0.

The Delta Program

From 1981 to 2019 the Delta Program was located in the historic Fairmount Building located on 411 South Fraser Street in the Highlands District of State College. The original Fairmount Building was built in 1914, but has undergone several expansion projects. Before being home to the Delta Program, the building housed State College Area High School from 1914 to 1955 then becoming an elementary school. The Delta Program moved out of the Fairmount Building in 2019 after the completion of the Westerly Parkway Building in 2018.

State College Borough: A Town Forged by the University

State College is a borough and home rule municipality in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The population was 40,501 at the 2020 census. The name of the Nittany Valley and its most prominent feature, Mount Nittany, comes from either Shawnee, Iroquois, or Lenape. It is thought to be a place name roughly translating to "single mountain."

In 1875, College Township formed, taking up most of what is now State College. In 1885, the Pennsylvania Railroad opened a train station two miles from campus in Lemont on the Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad. Passengers would have to catch an autobus or a hack to complete the journey to State College from the new station. Construction of the train station on West College Avenue was finally completed in 1892, connecting State College to the Bellefonte Central Railroad (BCRR) via Struble. In 1909 the hilly area south of Downtown began to be developed under the name Highland Park.

The borough began expanding in 1916 with annexations from Ferguson and College Township. In 1917 the borough added the Hamilton, Highland Park, and South Side additions to its boundary. It took six annexations from College Township from 1930 to 1968 to officially bring the South End and Nittany Hills (also Penfield) neighborhoods in the borough.

Community and Culture

State College is known for its vibrant community and cultural offerings. The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, usually referred to as "Arts Fest", is held downtown every July. The five-day festival features artists from around the country and draws more than 125,000 visitors. Streets are closed off and lined with booths where people can buy paintings, pottery, jewelry, and other hand-made goods.

State College's daily newspaper is Centre Daily Times, first published in 1898. Originally published under the name State College Times, the paper would change its name in 1932 to the Centre Daily Times.

Athletics

Penn State has a rich athletic tradition. Rec Hall is a field house located on the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University. It was opened on January 15, 1929, and remains in use. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions women's and men's volleyball teams, and Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling. Pegula Ice Arena is a 6,014-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park, on the campus of Penn State University, which opened October 11, 2013, to replace the 1,350-seat Penn State Ice Pavilion.

In 1914, the State College School Board purchased a sinkhole along Fraser and Nittany avenues to build a football field and track in the “natural amphitheater.” During the Great Depression the project received a $40,000 grant from the Works Progress Administration, $5,000 from the school district, and additional federal funds. The sinkhole was originally nicknamed "The Hollow", though it would later be named Memorial Field in dedication to State College High School graduates killed in both World Wars. In September 1937, the stadium hosted its first football game between State College and Yeagertown. State College would win 52-7 in front of an audience of 3,000 spectators.

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