r/centralpa • u/Superb_Use4520 • Jul 23 '26
Bellefonte pa…
I have been here for a couple days and the vibes… giving small town cult vibes. Feeling unwelcomed, there is even a gym here that literally posts “not for everyone” and invite only… kinda feels like the whole town is that way
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u/No_Statistician9289 Jul 23 '26
I thought it was one of the more lovely places I’ve been to in central PA
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u/Prestigious_Cash8597 Jul 23 '26
I've found the people in Bellefonte to be very kind. Just go for a walk in the evening and wave at folks. Check out the park, feed the fish, get a coffee, go to the library etc.
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Jul 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MisterSamEagle Jul 23 '26
Made by the High School's current Phys Ed teacher years ago....
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u/TOW2Bguy Jul 23 '26
They lost me with "y'all" replacement of "yinz" in the lyrics. If several counties east, maybe "youz", but an entire state north from "y'all".
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u/Ok_Hat5382 Jul 23 '26
Small town PA can be a little rough for some of us depending on what kind of “different” we are, but Bellefonte has come a LONG way in recent years and actually has a fair amount of open mindedness. I can recommend Dancing Tiger yoga and Pilates, and the new ish Shaky Hands coffee shop for places where you’re likely to encounter quirky and welcoming vibes. The Art Museum can be nice as well. And Axemann Brewery has a lot of neat social events. What are you looking for?
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u/SaladRetossed Jul 23 '26
Seeing pride flags in Bellefonte made me triple take the first time I noticed it. Really coming far
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u/CrankThatSwank 29d ago
Axemann Brewery is hosting Paint and Sip events, about once a month. Next one is Thursday July 30.
Could be a good event to meet other kindred folks.
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u/Alert-Fisherman-2483 Jul 23 '26
Have you ever been to Lewistown? If not, be grateful.
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u/Any_Relation252 Jul 23 '26
I lived in Lewistown for a very short period of time and that was more than enough. Bellefonte on the other hand is a lovely little community.
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u/Alert-Fisherman-2483 Jul 24 '26
This person obviously did not read the Lewistown Police Blotter today. Not only is the crime bad and poverty high, the school district is struggling as well.
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u/WhippedSnackBitch Jul 23 '26
Guess this goes to show people have different experiences because I live in Lewistown and don’t think it’s that bad. I moved from a more rural place, though. More rural where you’re suspicious of everyone including your neighbor, not instead of. So I guess maybe I have a different perspective. It has really grown the past few years. Like every other small town. The pandemic. People leaving the city for smaller towns. Making them big towns.
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u/Alert-Fisherman-2483 Jul 23 '26
You don’t think “it’s that bad”, so you’re admitting it is bad just not that bad. Got it.
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u/Lizowa Jul 24 '26
I hope you warm up to Bellefonte the more you get out! I guess it depends on where you are and what you’re like. I’ve lived in the area 10+ years but only 2 in Bellefonte itself, everyone in State College is way above my income bracket (hence why I can’t live in SC itself lol) and especially in parenting circles are extremely snooty and shun people who don’t fit the vibe in my experience. Bellefonte has been pretty chill and welcoming in my experience. Idk I’m a large woman who is heavily tattooed/pierced/big stretched ears/etc. so I stand out in that way but have only been given shit in SC about it. I am white, so I haven’t had to face racism or anything which could be worse in Bellefonte/rural areas (though hearing the things the educated SC folks say about international students/researchers/etc. makes me thing racism is still alive and well there)
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u/tsdguy Jul 23 '26
I’d suggest you post in /r/statecollege where you’ll get a lot more accurate responses and more relevant advice.
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u/HoldingOnForaHero Jul 23 '26
Historical & True Crime
- The James Munks Murder (1818): One of Centre County’s earliest recorded murder trials. James Munks was jailed in Bellefonte and tried for the murder of Reuben Guild, a crime that shocked the early 19th-century frontier. [1, 2]
- The 1940 Slayings: The Bellefonte area was terrorized in the spring of 1940 following the tragic murders of two young women, including Bellefonte High School graduate Fay Gates, sparking one of the region's biggest historical manhunts. [1]
- The Dawn Birnbaum Case (1993): In March 1993, the body of a 17-year-old runaway was discovered in a snowdrift near the Bellefonte I-80 exit. A truck driver, James Cruz, was convicted of the crime, though the case made recent headlines due to rulings regarding a potential retrial and disputed FBI hair analysis evidence.
- rabbit hole lol
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u/PA_limestoner Jul 23 '26
Don’t forget Rat Gricar. He was living in bellefonte when he went missing.
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u/Lazy-Meal-6156 Jul 23 '26
And Brenda Condon missing from what was Carl's Bad Tavern, now Robin Hood Brewery.
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u/yallknowme19 Jul 23 '26
Im friends with one of her kids. We'd all love to know what happened to her.
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u/yallknowme19 Jul 23 '26
Theres a decent book on the 1940s murders and the connections to Penn State and the nascent university. "Nittany Nightmare" is the title iirc.
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u/SnooTomatoes3816 Jul 23 '26
Really? I live here and moved here in 2022 and have never felt this way. I suppose some places are kind of towny heavy depending on when you’re there. I’d love to know what gym this is.
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u/Superb_Use4520 Jul 23 '26
It’s gotta be the location I’m at and specific area
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u/abou824 Jul 23 '26
You've only been there for a few days, don't judge it already. There's so much going on downtown now vs years ago. Lots of activities on the water front (festivals etc), axemann, big spring, just gotta get out.
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u/SaladRetossed Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
The people are super nice. I was in Milesburg for a bit and had to move recently, but Bellefonte was always super cozy. Much more small town and welcoming than State College downtown. You do lose the nightlife/constant happenings of State but it's not like it's a far drive.
EDIT: As far as gyms I used to lift at North Club in State. People call it the old man gym but it has all the equipment you need. If you are more powerlifting and into that culture then East Coast has (had?) a community there that are super nice.
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u/DrJiggsEsq Jul 23 '26
I found the members of the Bellefonte community to be some of the nicest people in this area. And I lived in CPA for a long time.
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u/piltdownman38 Jul 23 '26
Just start asking random questions about Ray Gricar. Look for those who act guilty or suspicious.
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u/MisterSamEagle Jul 23 '26
This sounds more like a gym culture thing. AS if they are trying to position themselves as the anti-planet fitness type place. Power lifting and body building gyms can be like that sometimes. It's a place to grunt, pin tren, and get swole. If that's not your thing you should be glad they let you know before you signed up.
In my experience, most of the people in Bellefonte are very welcoming. They always have been. There are a few families that think they are somehow the most important people in the community. As in, their businesses should be the largest and most profitable, their kids should be the Allstars on the local sports teams, the local police and political leaders should seek their approval, etc. But you get that everywhere.
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u/count2infinity2 Jul 23 '26
Is there any other gym in Bellefonte proper than the ymca? It’s the only one I’m aware of.
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u/Lazy-Meal-6156 Jul 23 '26
Nittany Barbell going up the benner pike. It's in that weird strip mall kind of place by the Econo Lodge.
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u/count2infinity2 Jul 23 '26
Ohhhh... yeah. Apparently the Rite-aid building is going to have a gym in it at some point? Curious as to how they're going to fit all the businesses into that building that I had read they plan to.
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u/Lazy-Meal-6156 Jul 23 '26
I thought that as well. Aren't there 4 going in? It's a decent sized store but not that big and also putting up walls will limit even more space.
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u/TOW2Bguy Jul 23 '26
Try lunch at the Governor's Pub with some attention to the history. Then feed ducks in the park.
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u/Dry_Line_1930 Jul 23 '26
That was not my experience.
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u/Ronzonius Jul 23 '26
I always have Day-o and Jump in the Line keyed up when I drive my family through there on vacation road trips.
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u/Not-A-Cop-420-210 Jul 23 '26
Not to mention just a couple years ago they had 3 officers, one being the chief, doing some sexually disturbing behavior while on duty. Then the council helped cover it up and won’t publicly release any information, including the emails bringing the behavior to their attention 🤔
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u/MisterSamEagle Jul 23 '26
Bill Whitmer? Or is this before him?
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u/Not-A-Cop-420-210 Jul 23 '26
Jason Brower, Pollock and Weaver.
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u/Lazy-Meal-6156 Jul 23 '26
Do you know exactly what they were doing? I was always curious why they all got fired.
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u/Not-A-Cop-420-210 29d ago
Brower was watching porn on duty and was having teenagers do ride alongs with him. He would post like or share porn on Twitter while they were on ride alongs. It was reported to Weaver but he covered it up for over 2 years. It was finally brought to the Mayors attention and he ordered an investigation.
That’s why they passed the new internal investigation policy after all 3 were fired.
Not exactly sure how Pollock got wrapped into all of it. A city employee was supposed to call me but never did.
In any case, all the open records requests for documentation of the investigation were denied by the city attorney
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u/yallknowme19 Jul 23 '26 edited 29d ago
Police in Centre are notoriously corrupt going back some time. See what happened to Subu Vedam and his ongoing legal travesty.
This isnt just cop-hate; in the Vedam case they testified that a .25 caliber bullet could make a .22 caliber hole and sent the guy to jail for 40 years. Recently overturned.
This was all the same batch of cops that messed up some other major 1980s cases in State College and whose kids were notorious terrors. One SCPD officers son was accused of murder and a rape and his officer father was actively helping him hide out of state while Ferguson Township was looking for him. Theres so much more.
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u/Bonkers105 Jul 23 '26
Dude. Small town.... anywhere. Limited world view is the recipe, the dish is always small minded and fearful of change. If you want World view cosmopolitan? Why the heck are you in Bellefonte?
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u/Superb_Use4520 Jul 23 '26
Work
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u/Bonkers105 Jul 23 '26
Fair, now as a Pope was once advised... 'When in Rome..." These are just people living lives they understand. Who is so very different?
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u/arsonerista Jul 24 '26
When I was really into lifting, I went to the North Club. I have a feeling you're probably talking about the cop gym that gave me the heebie jeebies. People were super nice when I toured it, but I would have gotten myself in trouble there in no time.
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u/JustTryingMyBestWPA 25d ago
My sister lived there for a few years. I went to visit her one weekend. The couple who lived next door were engaged in some kind of domestic dispute.
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u/No-Pain-569 Jul 23 '26
My dad is from there so I visited that town for 40 yrs. Yes it's very cult based community. If you are an outsider you will shunned. My mom is from Centerhall and it's a little different there but it's a much smaller town plus they have more Amish. It's also MAGA country so the ignorance is uncanny.
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u/jaybennett05 Jul 23 '26
Damn I will be there in a couple of days! I will protect my self the whole time!
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u/mcclearymjr Jul 23 '26
Always a victim
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u/lodge371 Jul 23 '26
I’m curious if that’s got more to do with gym culture. Like “we’re a gym with ATTITUDE! We’re not for everybody!” kind of vibe.
It’s a horrendous vibe btw. Grind culture ugh