STATE COLLEGE — If you’ve ever driven past the Boogersburg School and wondered what history looked like up close, now’s your chance to find out.
The Centre County Historical Society recently unveiled a fully restored Boogersburg Schoolhouse, a 1877 one-room school and the last of its kind out of nearly 180 that once filled the county.
After a nine-month, $216,000 restoration project supported by community donors and the Hamer Foundation, the school is ready to welcome the next generation of curious minds.
“It’s really gratifying,” Mary Sorensen, executive director of the Historical Society, said. “The community support has been incredible, and this school is still relevant in today’s educational landscape as a living history lab for students and adults alike.”
From the outside, Boogersburg still looks like a vintage schoolhouse, but step inside and you’ll see the painstaking detail that went into preserving every inch. Original windows were removed, stripped to bare wood, reglazed with antique glass and repainted. The interior walls, ceiling and woodwork were restored with care, all while preserving the unique character of the building.
But before any paint could go up, the work started outside.
“There were so many trees in danger of falling or already sick,” Sorensen said. “We had to start there.”
Cutting Edge Tree Professionals handled the job, selectively pruning and removing trees to protect the building while preserving the historic feel of the wooded lot.
With the landscape cleared, the next step was making the site safer and more accessible.
Alex’s Pro Scape designed new trails leading to the outhouses and picnic areas, smoothing out the walk up the hill so visitors wouldn’t feel like they were scaling a mountain just to get to school. West Penn Power installed a new power line, and House Wire Electric added a modern electrical system, though the original fuse box is still on display for the historically curious.
Much of this work was made possible by the Hamer Foundation, a local philanthropic organization with deep ties to environmental and historical causes across Centre County. Their early commitment helped launch a successful fundraising campaign along with the support from more than 125 individual donors.
“We’re so grateful,” Sorensen said. “Their support truly made this restoration possible.”
While most visitors probably won’t notice the electric upgrade or the new support beams, they will feel something else the second they walk through the door: time travel.
Over the past two decades, Boogersburg has hosted thousands of local elementary school students. It’s not just a tour, it’s an immersive, hands-on experience that gives kids a rare chance to step into a historical classroom, right down to the slates and the teacher’s bell.
“You can see it on their faces,” Sorensen said. “They’re making comparisons in real time between what they know and what once was. That’s what makes this place such a treasure.”
While the school is best known as a student destination, the Historical Society is also welcoming adult groups, local clubs and neighborhood organizations. Tours are available by appointment, and the response so far has been enthusiastic.
There’s still work to be done. Final touches include patching the stone foundation, adding a new interpretive sign and planting native shrubs to reflect the era.
“This place survives because people care. Volunteers, donors, neighbors … everyone who wants to keep Centre County’s history alive. That’s what makes Boogersburg special,” Sorenson remarked.
And now, thanks to their efforts, it’s open once again: for learning, for remembering and for stepping back in time.
