Behrend’s Federal House finds new life with $6.6 million renovation

For yrs, it sat vacant and unused alongside the jap edge of Penn State Behrend‘s campus in Harborcreek Township.

When the township’s oldest brick residence — crafted in 1838 — crumbled outdoors, squirrels scattered walnuts within. In before moments, the developing that Behrend dubbed Federal Property experienced been a stagecoach quit and a harmless dwelling on the Underground Railroad.

Now, 34 many years just after Larry and Kathryn Smith donated the house to Behrend, the 184-calendar year-previous composition has a new appear and a new reason.

Linked protection:Approximately 70 several years aged, Erie Corridor at Penn State Behrend razed to make way for new physical fitness middle

Adhering to a $6.6 million restoration and enlargement, the residence where by cobbler Thomas Bonnell and his wife Eva lifted 9 young children is now the dwelling of the Susan Hirt Hagen Middle for Group Outreach, Study, and Analysis or C.O.R.E.

Named for and endowed by the late Susan Hirt Hagen, a extended-time board member of Erie Insurance plan, which was co-launched by her father, H.O. Hirt, C.O.R.E. was fashioned in 1998 to handle considerations about teenager being pregnant in Erie County.

A lot more:Thomas Hagen continues restoration mission in Erie. Right here are some of his existing assignments

New creating, broader mission

The mission has been expanded alongside with the constructing, mentioned James Hodge, an assistant professor of psychology and director of C.O.R.E.

The application, which had been positioned in a ranch-design and style house on Jordan Highway, has moved into a new headquarters shaped by the relationship of that 19-century brick dwelling with a modern-day metal-and-glass structure to develop an 11,000,sq.-foot elaborate.

Erie Insurance policies Chairman Thomas Hagen, whose late wife endowed the method, joined forces with Penn Point out Behrend to fund the renovation and expansion.

Behrend Chancellor Ralph Ford said Hagen questioned that no details be delivered about the actual amount of his contribution.

“He was the important donor on this task,” Ford explained. “Without the need of his help and without the need of his vision it would not have happened.”

Hagen not only equipped funding, he delivered the plan, Ford said.

“The making has sat in this article on campus and we have been hunting for a use for it for around 30 a long time,” Ford reported. “We experienced imagined about it right before he approached us, but we did not have the suitable eyesight.”

Ford reported he likes that the building is one of the initially issues drivers see as they pass by on the Bayfront Connector. He also likes what the software states about a campus usually identified for its engineering and business enterprise applications.

“It indicates a lot,” Ford reported. “It really is just one of individuals fantastic tasks that has been excellent from beginning to stop. This highlights the great get the job done that is remaining accomplished by the Susan Hirt Hagen C.O.R.E. Heart.”

Related coverage:Choose a search inside of Erie Insurance’s new $147 million Thomas B. Hagen Setting up

Significant to the relatives

Hagen, whose portrait hangs in the conference place, said he stands by the program’s mission.

“It can be been essential to our spouse and children and to my spouse, who was seriously the founder of it,” Hagen said. “It was a little something that was very in the vicinity of and pricey to her. It really is seriously blossomed in excess of the decades because.”

A lot more:Transformational earn streak marks Penn Point out Behrend Chancellor Ralph Ford’s 5th anniversary

Today, C.O.R.E. is targeted on a broader mission, to examine and acquire “items that youth need to have to grow up and perform at a higher stage,” Hodge claimed.

Which is done as a result of mentoring courses in Erie County middle and superior schools.

In most conditions, “We consider the present on the street. We have university districts that will indicator up and we will compose a year’s worthy of of curriculum to mentor learners,” Hodge said.