Welcome to the Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture, an online resource sponsored by the Centre County Historical Society.
Currently, we are featuring articles about the Brockerhoff Mill and Gamble Mill, two of the only three gristmills still standing in the Spring Creek watershed. For decades, water-powered mills were an essential part of Centre County's economy. By 1810, there were thirty-one across the county and nineteen in the Spring Creek watershed. Local farmers brought their grain to the mills to be ground into flour or meal.
We welcome your feedback about all the articles in the encyclopedia as well as your suggestions for future encyclopedia articles.
Brockerhoff Mill is a historic grist mill in Benner Township and one of only two brick mill buildings still standing in Centre County. Daniel Turner developed the area around the mill on the west side of Spring Creek near Bellefonte in the 1790s, building a forge, sawmill, and gristmill.
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The Gamble Mill, located near the Lamb Street bridge in Bellefonte, was a water-powered gristmill built more than two centuries ago. It was an important part of the history of Bellefonte and of the more than 150 years of grain milling in Centre County. The Gamble Mill is one of only three mills still standing in the Spring Creek watershed.
Learn More>>Big Spring is a natural groundwater outlet found in Talleyrand Park in downtown Bellefonte, noteworthy for both its unique geology and its historical significance.The powerful spring forms a pool at the edge of the park.
Learn More>>Millbrook Marsh Nature Center is a 62-acre a farmstead and wetland in College Township established to educate visitors about the natural world.
Learn More>>The manufacture of refractories – brick capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures – was one of Centre County’s major industries for more than seventy years. By the early 20th century, about 800 workers at eight brickyards were producing what was commonly known as fire brick.
Learn More>>The State College Choral Society is a 100-member choral group that been performing regularly around Centre County since 1948. The society began as a 35-member chorus organized by the State College Women’s Club. Starting in 1949, men joined the choir.
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