While taking a walk through Bellefonte High, students might have realized a brand new part of the building: a mosaic featuring their own community had been hung up over the summer and was dazzling with its features when the school reopened for the school year.
Art teachers Mrs. Erin Welsh and Mrs. Heather McClure began the project in 2019 with the help of many students. Using history teacher Mr. Matt Marris, the three teachers planned the mosaic and started a draft.
“The students were the driving force behind the mosaic. Art students who had an interest have loyally helped create this mosaic from 2019-2024. This mosaic was built by them…and for them, and for the entire community of Bellefonte,” Mrs. Welsh said.
However, the project had hit a brick wall, when 2020 brought a global pandemic that caused parts of the world to shut down, and this lockdown would eventually reach Bellefonte, putting the mosaic process on hold.
However, the project would eventually continue over the following few years, with many students willing to help bring the mosaic forward. Through the students’ help, the mosaic would reach completion in the summer of 2024.
“Over the years, MANY students and staff have helped with this project…We all learned that a pandemic can’t stop us, it just slowed us down a bit! Many hands can make amazing things,” Mrs. Welsh said.
The mosaic itself features significant buildings that played a part in Bellefonte’s history, such as: Talleyrand Park, the train station and Spring Creek, the Courthouse, Hastings Mansion, the Linn House (Bellefonte Art Museum), the Brockerhoff, the Gamble Mill, AME Church, Reynolds Mansion, the Elks Lodge, the Cadillac building, Bush Arcade, the Match Factory, and the First National Bank building.
“Mr. Maris was instrumental in helping us decide what buildings we might include, significant for their history and importance for the town of Bellefonte. While we couldn’t include them all, we included many,” Mrs. Welsh said.
Even through all the challenges, Mrs. Welsh’s mosaic tells a story of our community, and the people behind it.
