Blair County Genealogical Society Hosts Discussion on Highland Hall

Blair County Genealogical Society hosted a talk about Highland Hall at the May meeting. The hall is a good example of a public building created by a group of citizens who wanted to have a an educational institution. It has lasted for more than 160 years and it is still in use.

Genealogical Society member and presenter Margaret Skriesath said that she hoped that the crowd understood the different uses of the building and how it continues to be an important place in Hollidaysburg.

It all started in the fall of 1865 when Rev. David H. Barron of The First Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg delivered a sermon on the need for a school for private Christian Education in Hollidaysburg.

Following his inspiring sermon, community members decided to work together to create the school.

The Hollidaysburg Male and Female Seminary was incorporated on Christmas Day 1865. The articles of incorporation were recorded on Jan. 26, 1866. Funds were raised in two ways: through donations made by members of the founding association and by soliciting the community.

The land for the building was purchased by the association in 1866. The tract is slightly more than 12 acres and is located at the corner of Walnut and Penn streets in Hollidaysburg. The site had been formerly used as a stone quarry.

Once the land was secured, members of the association started to look for an architect and builder. They decided on Samuel Sloan of Philadelphia as the architect. He was a designer of industrial buildings as well as larger homes and churches. Construction took between three and four years. The builder chosen by the association was Daniel K. Reamy of Hollidaysburg.

In 1869, funds for the school weren't being raised fast enough and the stress caused the original association to crumble. In November of that year, the property was seized by the sheriff for unpaid debts. The seminary had its first graduating class in 1869.

In February 1870, the property was sold by John McKee, the high sheriff, to James Denniston an association member for the sum of $16. The property would remain in his hands until he and his wife sold it back to the Hollidaysburg Male and Female Seminary Company in 1872.

During the 1869-70 year, the building of the Hollidaysburg Female Seminary was completed. For the next 40 years, the school operated with more or less financial stability.

In 1911, the school was formally named Highland Hall. Then, it became known as Ms Cowles School for Girls at Highland Hall. Between 1914 and 1918, the institution became well-known as a quality women's college prep school.

During the depression, every year the school lost money and the decision to close it was made in 1940.

The building stood empty until 1942, when it was reopened by the military as The Keystone Radio School. It was officially designated as a training school for men. Military use of the building continued until the end of WWII.

In 1945, the building was sold to the Third Order of St. Francis, which is now known as the Secular Order of St Francis. This seminary continued until the early 1960s when it was closed.

During the fiscal year of 1968-69, the building was acquired by Blair County. The building was remodeled to serve as an annex to the courthouse use by the county lasted until the 1990s. In 2018, the building opened as a senior living community.