The Holderman House

CIRCA 1860

Happy Valley Bodyworks at the Holderman House a Centre County historical gem. Newly renovated in 2024, this 160 year old building is now a place of healing.

From an 1800’s farm to a place of healing.

  • A bedroom with a massage or examination table, a small wooden dresser with a mirror, a chair, a lamp with two shades, a gallery wall with framed sketches, a window with sheer curtains, a dark cabinet, and a potted plant.
  • A bedroom with a bed, a blue velvet couch, a lamp, and framed artwork on the wall, featuring white curtains on the windows and a beige door.
  • Massage table in a room with a large rug, a window with curtains, and various plants and furniture.
  • A cozy indoor space with wooden wall panels, a vintage wooden cabinet displaying clothes, plants, and decorative items. There are chairs, a small table with a poinsettia plant, and a sofa. The space features a patterned rug on the floor and a water fountain with two bowls mounted on the wooden wall.
  • A narrow hallway with white walls, wooden flooring, framed pictures on the walls, a mirror, an exit sign, and a ceiling light fixture.
  • A bedroom with white walls, a window with white curtains, and a dark ceiling with a large light fixture. There is a bed with a U-shaped pillow, a colorful framed picture of a castle and hot air balloons hanging on the wall, a small wooden cabinet with books and toys, and a zebra-patterned rug on the floor.
  • Hospital room with bed, medical equipment, and medical supplies; bedroom furniture and decor in the background.
  • Top view of a staircase with a beige and black striped runner, wooden handrails on both sides, leading down to a wooden floor and a door with lace curtains.
  • A massage therapy room with a massage table covered in gray sheets, a rolling stool, a small side table, and a patterned area rug on hardwood floors. There's an air conditioner on the wall and windows with white curtains, and framed artwork on the wall.
  • Decorative sculpture resembling a ribcage with a witch hat on top, placed in a black pot with greenery, on a wooden surface.
  • Room with massage table, black sofa, wooden table, framed art on wall, window with floral curtains, patterned rug on wooden floor, and a lamp.

“The Holderman House”

The History of 2173 East College Avenue

Research has traced the origins of this folk plank-style farmhouse to its original owners, Abraham Halderman (1795–1866) and Cathrine Houser (1804–1875). Over time, the family surname evolved to the more commonly seen “Holderman,” based on deed records and gravestone inscriptions.

Cathrine was the granddaughter of Jacob Houser, the founder of Houserville, while Abraham was the grandson of German immigrant Jacob Holeman (b. 1722). The Holderman family migrated to what was then Spring and Harris Townships (now College Township) between 1817 and 1820. Abraham and Cathrine married in 1820.

In 1838, Abraham purchased land from James Irvin, as well as additional property from his father during the same period. These acquisitions mark the likely beginning of the home’s story. Over the years, the Holdermans were involved in other significant land transactions in the region, including portions of Mount Nittany.

The original 1830s Holderman homestead—separate from the current structure—still stands in nearby Lemont. That home is believed to have served as a community gathering space and the founding location of the local Methodist church, which remains active today.

The 2173 farmhouse was likely inhabited by Abraham and Cathrine’s eldest son, John Holderman, a connection supported by Orphan Court documents from the late 1800s. John would go on to serve as a Sergeant in the 184th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

Several members of the Holderman and Houser families served in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, adding further depth to this family's historical legacy. After Abraham’s death in 1866, Cathrine maintained the estate until it was passed down to John. In 1876, the property was sold to the Hoy family, along with significant surrounding acreage, which was distributed among five additional families.

Over the next 147 years, the building changed hands many times. In 2023, renovations began under new ownership, breathing new life into the historic home. Today, it is the proud home of Happy Valley Bodyworks and Happy Valley Healthy Beauty—a modern space rooted in deep local history.Visit our waiting room for a more extensive history of our building!