Dunlop House/Diven House

The eastern portion of the Dunlop House at 143 West High Street, was constructed by ironmaster Lt. Col. James Dunlop, who with his son-in-law James Harris, founded Bellefonte. Dunlop served in the Revolutionary War until 1777 and later as a Justice of Common Pleas in Cumberland County. He came to Bald Eagle township in 1794 and purchased a large tract of land to become the first resident of Bellefonte. Immediately to the right of Dunlop House, James Dunlop built Diven House in 1797 for Alexander Diven, who had come with Dunlop from Cumberland County.

Before the courthouse on The Diamond was constructed, the parlor of the structure at 143 served as the courthouse of Centre County during the years 1800 to 1806. The western portion of the same house was built by local ironmasters of the Valentine family in 1848. The architect for both of these homes and many others in the area was John Lowery, who also managed the Bell Font Forg for Dunlop, who was his cousin.