|
Multimedia Labels: |
|
|
|
Hollidaysburg Touch Screen Interactive Copy |
|
Overview: The Hollidaysburg Story [three screen loop] Screen 1: In
the beginning…
In 1830, Hollidaysburg was a tiny rural backwater, with a population of 70. By 1860, the town had become the County Seat of Blair County, with a population of 2,469. The huge growth was due in large part to the construction and operation of the Main Line of Public Works, a system of railroads and canals that moved goods and people between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Next… Hollidaysburg was the point at which the
Pennsylvania Canal ended and the Allegheny Portage Railroad began. As a result, it was the town where immigrant workers could
find regular, well-paid jobs. Soon,
it became an economic crossroads where merchants, boatmakers,
innkeepers, clothiers from all over the world set up shop.
Coal was discovered nearby, and with that discovery came a new
influx of immigrant laborers. Although the Main Line of Public Works ceased
functioning in 1854, the town continued to grow.
Today, Hollidaysburg has a population of 6,000.
Still the County Seat, it remains a small but flourishing city
with a history and architecture that parallels that of the expansion of
the American frontier. Click for:
Architecture Hollidaysburg Heritage Screen 1: Hollidaysburg’s Heyday
With the construction of the Public Works,
Hollidaysburg became a center for commerce and manufacturing. The discovery of iron ore and coal increased the town’s
economic importance. Immigrants,
largely from Ireland and Germany, along with freed Blacks, found their
way to the new businesses in town.
Many of the businesses and families that came to Hollidaysburg
during the mid-1800’s still remain today. Next… Screen 2: Commerce Some of
Hollidaysburg’s most important businesses came to town over 100 years
ago. Others are relatively
new to the area. [images] McLanahan Corporation – Founded as the
Bellorphon Iron Foundry in 1838, McLanahan remains one of
Hollidaysburg’s most important industries. Screen 3: People As work
opportunities increased, so too did the population of Hollidaysburg.
At the same time, the Allegheny Portage Railway and associated
canal became popular tourist attractions.
Hollidaysburg became a destination. Click for…
Visitors Screen 4: Visitors Some of the
Victorian era’s best-known names visited Hollidaysburg.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dickens, Sherman Day and Thomas
Suckling all wrote about the experience of the canal, the railroad and
the town itself. Click to hear
some of their reminiscences. Screen 5: Residents Hollidaysburg
has recorded its history in pictures.
In this photo album, you’ll find images of Hollidaysburg church
groups, school children, working men and athletes.
You’ll meet the folks who marched in street parades; who
founded local restaurants and businesses; who starred in community
theatricals. Click here to
view the photo album. Architectural HeritageScreen 1: Hollidaysburg Architecture
As Hollidaysburg grew in size and wealth, so did
its architectural diversity. From
the 1830’s to the present day, well-to-do Hollidaysburg residents have
built their homes in the current style.
As a result, the Hollidaysburg Historic District includes homes
in styles ranging from the late Federal Greek Revival buildings of the
1830’s to various turn of the century revival styles predating World
War I. Screen 2: The Hollidaysburg Historic DistrictIn 1989, a group of concerned citizens created the
Hollidaysburg Historic District and its accompanying borough ordinance
for the purpose of protecting and preserving the architectural character
of the borough’s historic buildings.
The ordinance protects historically significant buildings, and
preserves much of the town’s early character.
In fact, much of the architecture from the canal era remains
intact, making a walking tour of the Historic District a real “journey
through time.” Screen 3 loop “walking tour”: Architecture of Hollidaysburg [nb: images could be drawn directly from the homeowner’s manual, with a linked page for each style]Federal Style (1830-1870) The Federal Style, adaptable to both single and row homes, is most often seen as a brick home in a suburban development. In Hollidaysburg, a good example of the Federal style may be seen at 326 Allegheny Street. Features: · Usually rectangular, one or two rooms deep, with a medium pitch, side-gable roof. · Front façade typically five windows across with windows and doors arranged symetrically (may be fewer windows in smaller houses) · Windows double-hung with six panes per sash ·
Flat brick arches above most windows Next … Greek Revival (1830-1860) The Greek revival style
stood for democratic ideals, and was popular in both public buildings
and homes. Some Greek
revival homes look almost colonial in style, while others have a
gable-type front that resembles a Greek temple.
An example of Greek revival architecture may be seen at 421
Montgomery Street. Next… Features: · Boxy shape, one or two rooms deep, with gable or hipped roof of low-to-medium pitch · Roof cornice and entrance porches decorated with classical-looking wooden trim · Double-hung windows and doors arranged symetrically · Porches supported by square posts or classical columns · Front door frame with narrow side windows and transom above Next… Gothic Revival (1850-1880) This popular style is often thought of as “Victorian.” Meant to be picturesque, gothic revival homes are generally asymmetrical and highly ornamented. Some of Hollidaysburg’s gothic revival homes have their ornamentation hidden under siding. A good example of a gothic revival home may be seen at 420 Allegheny Street. Features:
Next… Italianate (1850-1890) Some Italianate homes are similar to gothic revival; they may be picturesque or restrained. A good example is 904 Allegheny Street. Features:
Next… Second Empire (1870-1890) Second empire homes have boxy-looking mansard roofs
and are quite ornamental. Some are very large, and look almost
monumental in scale. Second
empire houses can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
An excellent example is 515 Montgomery Street. Features:
Next… Queen Anne (1880-1900) The very decorative Queen Anne style grafted classical and medieval ornament onto a variety of building forms. These homes may include turrets, bay windows, towers, large porches, decorated chimneys and gables. Some Queen Anne’s in Hollidaysburg have been stripped down and covered in siding. A good example may be seen at 720 Walnut Street. Features:
Next… Four Square (1900-1930) These cube shaped houses generally have four equal-sized rooms on each floor. The roofs are pyramid-shaped. A good example is 413 Jones Street. Features: · Pyramidal or hipped roof · Usually two stories high and two window wide; some have livable attic space · Wrap-around or full-width front porch, often with classical-looking porch columns Next… Colonial Revival
(1890-1930) These homes combine authentic colonial details with contemporary features in a larger and more exaggerated form than the original 18th century models. Built in a variety of forms and sizes, these houses range from small cottages to large mansions. A typical example is 401 Walnut Street. Features: · Box shaped, symmetrical front façade, centered front door · Windows generally double-hung sliding sash, usually with multiple panes in one or both sashes. · “Colonial” entranceway often features a fanlight, rectangular transom window or flanking side windows · full-width or smaller entry porch, usually with classical columns set on bases Take the Quiz! Screen 4: What Style is it? How’s your architectural acumen? Look at each photo, and click on the style you think it
represents. Then click on
“results” to find out how you did! [5 images of Hollidaysburg houses, each built in a different style. 4 architectural options for each house.] Screen 5: Results If you got five right, you’re an A+ architect. If you got 3 or 4 right, you’re an architect’s apprentice If you got 2 right, you’re still an architectural amateur If you got
zero or 1 right – go back to “styles” and try again! |