Highland Hall, also known as the Courthouse Annex, was a Presbyterian seminary, an historic school building for females, a radio school during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, and a county office building before it became a retirement home in 2016. It is located in
Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg is a borough in and the county seat of Blair County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located on the Juniata River, south of Altoona and is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, metropolitan statistical area. In 1900, 2,998 p ...
.
Highland Hall was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1978.
History and architectural features
Designed by noted Philadelphia architect
Samuel Sloan (1815-1884), Highland Hall was built sometime around 1865. It is now a four-story, "L"-shaped, stone building that features a
mansard roof, which was a characteristic of the
Second Empire Second Empire may refer to:
* Second British Empire, used by some historians to describe the British Empire after 1783
* Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396)
* Second French Empire (1852–1870)
** Second Empire architecture, an architectural styl ...
style.
[ ''Note:'' This includes ]
Highland Hall was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1978.
It was originally built to serve as a
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
seminary for both sexes. In 1911, it became a female academy and was officially named Highland Hall. It continued to be used as a girls' school until 1940.
[ ''Note:'' This includes ]
Highland Hall was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1978.
In 1940 it became a Roman Catholic Minor Seminary of the Third Order Regular Franciscans for young men studying for the priesthood. It closed in 1968 with four students who transferred to St. Bernardine's Monastery for residence and continued their studies at Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona.
[ ''Note:'' This includes ]
In 1969, it was converted into a county office building.
[ ''Note:'' This includes ]
Highland Hall was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1978.
Highland Hall was subsequently turned into a sixty-five and older, affordable housing facility. The renovation work was performed by Keller Engineers and S&A Homes.
References
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Second Empire architecture in Pennsylvania
School buildings completed in 1865
Buildings and structures in Blair County, Pennsylvania
National Register of Historic Places in Blair County, Pennsylvania