I visited Eric Porterfield yesterday. He recently picked up these historical State College photos from someplace, and I grabbed pictures of them myself to share. They tell such a visceral story of the development of State College from something less than a speck on the map into the place we know it as today. They’re a witness to Pennsylvania’s past, and a key to understanding its future as a place with fundamentally rural and secluded roots:

1876- College Avenue and Beaver Avenue as taken from Old Main tower. The frame house on the left, along East College Avenue, was the John Foster home. This house remains today at 130 East College Avenue.

1924- A view of our growing town from the Old Main tower.

1890- South of West Beaver Avenue. A child stands in a field on the William Foster farm, the site of present day Memorial Field and Central Parklet.