Lemont owes much of its existence to its roads. Travelers have always needed to pass by the “end of the mountain” to get around Mount Nittany on their way between Nittany and Penns Valleys. When travelers clopped between Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Centre Furnace and Pine Grove Mills in the mid- to late-1800s, they went through Lemont. They passed by the village’s bank, hotel, houses and shops. All of these buildings were on Lemont’s main drag, Pike Street, and many of them still stand today. In fact, Lemont maintains a lot of the same charm early passersby enjoyed thanks to – you guessed it – roads.
Yes, there are a few differences. Back then it was common for private companies to own and operate roads. They built toll roads or “turn pikes” where travelers were required to stop at toll gates to pay a fee. The road through Lemont was one of those roads, which is how it got its name – Pike Street.
Around the turn of the 20th Century, a tollhouse was built near what is now the corner of Pike and Dale Streets. Resident John Shuey and his family lived in the house. They collected a 10-cent toll for the Pike Company from folks passing through. The house also served as Lemont’s first post office, which the Shueys also managed.
The late 1800s through 1920 was a prosperous time for Lemont. The Grain Elevator & Coal Sheds were humming. Trains carrying faculty, students and visitors from Penn State were frequent. The quarry was blasting. During this time, Pike Street would go from a muddy pathway trampled by horses to a smooth street ready for the new automobile.
However, that activity was about to slow down. The rise of the automobile meant the days of passenger train service were numbered – plus, State College got its own station. Another reason was because in 1928, a new route between the county’s two major municipalities – Bellefonte and State College – was built and no longer passed through Lemont. The new road, what is now Benner Pike, sidestepped the village completely. Suddenly Lemont was out of the way. In 1941, Benner Pike added a third and fourth lane.
Tough times followed, but if Lemont was ever a ghost town, it wouldn’t be neglected for long. The village’s rebirth as a bedroom community mirrored the rapid growth of Penn State. And thanks to the Benner Pike, development shot right past our historic village. Lemont kept its old school charm.
New Old Lemont
New homeowners revitalized their properties, shops returned and Lemont became the wonderful place it is today. And it’s still a busy crossroads. On any given day, between 6,000 and 8,000 cars and trucks use Pike Street, according to a 2020 article by StateCollege.com. That’s three times more than the population of the village.
In 1973, a 25-mile-an-hour speed limit was established, and the first traffic light was installed. A year later, Lemont citizens halted the construction of a bypass project that would have completely separated Lemont from the surrounding area.
At the turn of the following century (2000-ish), Pike Street was showing its age. The sidewalks were in shambles. Parking was haphazard. And pedestrians beware.
In addition to that, speeding traffic was an issue. A concept called “street calming” appeared in a 1994 Lemont Village newsletter. The article foretold of an initiative that wouldn’t take shape for another 30 years.
In 2000, the Penn State Hamer Center for Community Design Assistance completed a study of Lemont, with emphasis on suggested designs for Pike Street, including sidewalks, parking, cross walks, traffic calming, and improved ambiance. Many meetings, proposals, reports and updates followed over the years.
“Don’t get excited. They’ve been talking about this for ages.”
Close to home
When my wife Emily and I moved to Lemont in 2011, we attended a meeting at the township building about the project. We were thrilled about the proposed sidewalks and the slower traffic, but a friendly neighbor warned us, “Don’t get excited. They’ve been talking about this for ages.”
Seven years later, the project took a major step. PennDOT awarded the township more than $1 million in funding to complete the project. Another $400,000 was needed to cover all the costs.
When construction started, Emily, our newborn daughter Zoë and I had a front row seat. In fact, our front yard was surprisingly dug up first. It was a mess.
The good: an infant can watch construction for hours. Also, the workers unearthed some really neat relics in our yard, including old drainage pipes and parts of an old bridge. The bad: our yard was used to park vehicles and piles of refuse for two years and, of course, the noise. The fun: watching people get pulled over for sneaking their cars in the wrong direction when Pike Street was one way.
In November 2022, two-way traffic returned, and the new Pike Street opened. We were sad to see so many trees get cut down. It’s still not great to bike through, and although the average speed has decreased, apparently “speeders are gonna speed.” (If you’re reading this: Slow Down. Enjoy Lemont.)
It was a long haul. We are glad it’s over and thankful that most Lemont businesses persevered. The sidewalks are a vast improvement. We’ve already noticed many pedestrians walking through the village more than ever, especially on sunny days.
Since its earliest days, Pike Street has been the village’s main artery. From the horse and buggies to electric cars and bicyclists, it has been the essential crossroads pumping at the heart of Lemont.
A version of this article was posted in the spring 2024 Lemont Village newsletter.
