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The
Rock Hill School at Linden Hall
Upper Brush Valley Road runs
along the base of Mt. Nittany between Lemont and Centre Hall, a quiet and
scenic drive from which one can take in some of the area's most gorgeous
views: gently rolling pastures and crop fields lead away to the Mt. Nittany
Expressway off in the distance, against the backdrop of Tussey Mountain's
uneven and shadowy ridges. Just past Rock Hill Road, about two miles east
of Brush Valley Road's origin at Lenape Lane, a weathered but sturdy one-room
schoolhouse watches over the village of Linden Hall as it has for 113 years.
This is the Rock Hill School, and it is undergoing a major restoration. (continued
below)
The schoolhouse served its intended function
until 1937, when that modern contraption, the internal-combustion engine,
made it possible to consolidate the schools of Rock Hill, Shingletown, and
Boalsburg. After that the building was used for community events and meetings
until the 1980s. It fell into disuse at that time and has been used primarily
as a storage facility for the past two decades.
 Then,
in the fall of 2005, nearby residents Ron Kreidler and Len Rocky formed the
Rock Hill School at Linden Hall Association, a nonprofit whose mission is
to "to restore and preserve the historic Rock Hill School while revitalizing
it to become an active learning center for present and future generations."
The list of potential community uses is long, including everything from Boy
and Girl Scout meetings to educational field trips to elections polling.
A bicycle- and motorcycle-touring rest stop is also slated for inclusion
on the school grounds.
It's
a long haul to get a Victorian-era building up to twenty-first century code
requirements, but the Association is determined. When the Rock Hill School
restoration is complete, it will have all the modern conveniences its original
architects never imagined, such as indoor plumbing, telephone service, and
electricity. Already the group has raised over $56,000 toward the restoration,
including state grants secured by Senator Jake Corman and Representative
Kerry Benninghoff, but much work remains to be done.
To donate to the Rock Hill School restoration
project, and to discover more fascinating history of this piece of regional
history, visit the Rock
Hill School website.
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Historic Buildings of Centre
County Pennsylvania: The Historic Registration Project of Centre County Library,
Penn State University Press, 1980. We couldn't actually find a copy of this
book to peruse, nor could we find a good description. The title is so interesting,
however, and so relevant to this week's feature we couldn't resist including
it here. The copy to which we have linked is a first-edition, with dust jacket,
in fine/like-new condition. Offered
through Alibris.
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9/19 Tue: Moon enters Virgo
 9/22
Fri: Annular Solar Eclipse in Virgo. "Annular" (not "annual")
eclipses occur because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is not perfectly
circular; it is an ellipse. When the Moon is at its widest point in its elliptical
orbit around the Earth it appears smaller, as do all objects that are farther
away. An eclipse that occurs at this time will not result in a completely
darkened sun. Instead, a bright ring, or "annulus," remains visible
around the outside of the Moon's disc. Friday's annular eclipse will be visible
in eastern South America and western Africa. For more information:
view
an animation of Friday's eclipse path across the Earth's surface -- view
an image of the October, 2005 annular eclipse as seen in Spain -- learn
more about solar eclipses.
9/23 Sat: Sun enters Libra; Mercury trine Neptune; Autumnal
Equinox, 12:03 am local time.
9/24 Sun: Moon enters Scorpio; Jupiter square Neptune
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~
Monday | Sept. 18 ~
Bellefonte Borough Council:
8:00 pm, Bellefonte Municipal Building, 236 West Lamb Street, Bellefonte.
Benner Township Supervisors: 7:30 pm, Benner Township Municipal
Building, 1224 Buffalo Run Road, Bellefonte.
Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors: 7:00 pm, CRCoG Forum Room,
2643 Gateway Drive, State College.
State College Borough Council, Special Meeting: 5:30 pm, Room 220,
State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., State College. Kick-off
Meeting for the Urban Village Revitalization Plan.
State College Borough Council, Regular
Meeting: 5:30 pm, Room 220, State College Municipal Building, 243
S. Allen St., State College. Agenda.
~
Tuesday | Sept. 19 ~
Haines Township Board of Supervisors
Meeting: 6:30 pm, 153 S. Rachel's Way, Aaronsburg. Agenda.
Millheim Borough Council, Special Meeting: 6:00 pm, Borough
Council Room, 225 E. Main St., Millheim.
~
Thursday | Sept. 21 ~
College Township Council Meeting:
7:00 pm, College Township Municipal Building, 2nd floor meeting room, 1481
E. College Ave, State College.
Halfmoon Township Board of Supervisors: 7:00 pm, Halfmoon Township
Municipal Building, 100 Municipal Lane, Port Matilda.
~
Saturday | Sept. 23 ~
Benner
Township Fall Festival: 9 am - 4 pm, Buffalo Run Community Park,
Benner Township.
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