HRB Systems was a State College-based research and development company that created intelligence, defense, and information systems technologies for the U.S. government. During five decades, it grew into a major Centre County business employing more than 1,500 people.
John Wieland Oswald served as Penn State’s thirteenth president from 1970 to 1983. During his tenure he dealt with the university’s financial problems, student protests, and faculty discontent, while his policies stabilized the university fiscally, diversified student enrollment, and expanded the physical plant.
For nearly a century the coal industry was an important element of Centre County’s economy. Bituminous coal from the Mountaintop and Moshannon Valley areas helped to power the nation’s industrial revolution and later fueled electric generating stations.
Tom Thwaites was a professor, outdoor recreationist, and author perhaps best known for founding the Mid State Trail, the longest hiking trail in Pennsylvania. The first segment of the trail to be opened was in Rothrock State Forest on Tussey Mountain near Boalsburg.
Schwab Auditorium is one of Penn State’s oldest and most iconic venues. Opened in 1903, the performance space hosts speakers, concerts, and student performances. It was the school’s first building funded by a private donation and named after the sole benefactors: Charles M. Schwab and his wife, Emma.
C-COR manufactured equipment for the rapidly expanding cable TV industry after World War II, while its sister firm, Centre Video, owned and operated cable systems throughout Pennsylvania. The companies were key players in the development of cable television, and their leaders were generous members of the community.
The Pasto Agricultural Museum chronicles agricultural history and development, focusing on Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Its vast collection includes historic items that showcase tools and technology related to agricultural and rural life.
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international organization that promotes abstinence from alcohol and also campaigns for other social causes. The organization was active in Centre County for decades with chapters across the county.
Rhoneymeade is a rural arboretum and sculpture garden at the ancestral home of Leonard Rhone, a founder of the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair. It hosts various events annually, as well as art classes, and is open seasonally from sunrise to sunset.
The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools provided education for children in Pennsylvania beginning during the Civil War and continuing until 2009. Established by Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin of Bellefonte, one of the schools operated in Centre County for four years.
© 2026 Centre County Historical Society
Website by Graphics & Design