Year Established: 1894
Completed in 1894, this beautifully preserved home was built by Joseph Montgomery as a residence for his parents and siblings—just a few years before he co-founded the Pennsylvania Match Factory in 1899 alongside Fountain Crider and W. Fred Reynolds.
At the time, Bellefonte’s industry was shifting from raw material processing to finished goods. The introduction of advanced production machinery—brought in by a competitor—demonstrated the efficiency and promise of match manufacturing, especially given the area’s abundant lumber supply. Montgomery seized the opportunity, helping to usher Bellefonte into a new era of industrial diversification.
More than a century later, the home retains its original stained glass windows, gleaming woodwork, and many other details that speak to the craftsmanship and innovation of its time.
