This small Centre County borough has its own historic district and one very pink old church

Unionville Borough at a glance

Population: 264 (As of the 2022 United States Census )

Landmarks: Unionville Historic District, “Mary’s Pink Church,” Bald Eagle Creek, Unionville Borough Park

Where to eat: Pack a bag

What else to do there: Fishing, hiking, visit alpacas at Bald Eagle Valley Alpaca Ranch in Union Township and check out Coach Darren Spotts Memorial Fields

More info: www.unionvilleborough.com

Located along Bald Eagle Creek, Unionville Borough has 173 buildings its historic district — including one that stands out for its Barbie-pink color.

Unionville is about four miles from the Bald Eagle Area High School along South Eagle Valley Road. While it may not have much to do in terms of attractions, what Unionville does have is a historic past, some unique destinations and an authentic small-town feel that’s loved by its residents.

“I’ve never met people like the ones I’ve met in Unionville — and I’ve met a lot of people,” borough resident Alain Stefflre said. “Having lived in a larger city for most of my life, I’ve become somewhat accustomed to general rudeness or firmness from people, but you get none of that here. The people here are as authentic as it gets, and I think that they perfectly embody the feel of being in this town.”

Full of history

While Unionville Borough was incorporated in 1859, people settled there years before its incorporation, as some of the houses in the borough have been there since as early as 1842, according to the borough’s website .

Because of the preservation of these buildings, in 1979 the Unionville Historic District was added to the United States’ National Register of Historic Places.

The district includes 173 building such as the Moses-Taylor Tavern, the Peter’s Temperance House, the Union Church, the Griest Store and Union Grange Hall.

Herman Fisher, the founder of Fisher Price Toys, was also born and raised in Unionville, and later went on to attend Penn State.

Allen Runkle, a borough resident and Unionville Borough councilman, is proud of his town’s past, and welcomes anyone to come and enjoy the historic buildings found in the borough.

“We don’t have much in terms of history, but I think that what we do have is pretty interesting,” Runkle said. “We’ve got some pretty old, historic buildings here that I would recommend anyone driving through the area to stop and have a peek at. It doesn’t matter where in Unionville you go to see them too — they’re everywhere.”

One-of-a-kind destinations

Unionville is home to some unique destinations, including one that’s sure to stick out along South Eagle Valley Road.

Mary Vollero’s home, more commonly know as “that one pink church in Unionville,” to those passing through the borough, is a long-standing building that once housed an antique shop.

Now used as a living space, the pink former church was also used in the past by Vollero to show off various art exhibits created by her and her acquaintances.

“It’s a really special sight for people who drive through town and I, personally, love the pink paint job — it’s brilliant,” Vollero said. “I get people all the time who ask me ‘why in the world would you paint that house pink?’ While I didn’t paint it myself, I wouldn’t want to paint it any other color. It’s unique, it’s got a lot of authenticity and it adds some good character to this old town.”

Vollero told the Centre Daily Times in 2015 that when the church was originally painted, it was meant to be a dark red. However, as the years passed, the paint oxidized, giving the church its iconic pink color.

Today Vollero also uses the yard to raise ducks and ducklings, since the church sits right next to Dewitt Run, which leads into Bald Eagle Creek.

Another unique sight to see is the Bald Eagle Valley Alpaca Ranch. The ranch is located in Union Township — the township that envelops Unionville — and is run by Bald Eagle Area teacher Ann Taylor and her family.

The ranch has been there for more than a decade and is home to several of the wool-producing animals, as well as Champ — a donkey born on, and named after, the day that Bald Eagle Area’s varsity baseball team won its most recent state championship title .

Taylor and her family also provide two alpacas to a local church each winter for a nativity scene recreation.

Connecting with nature

Apart its unique buildings and farms, Unionville and Union Township also have offerings for those who prefer to spend their time outside.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands 103 is located in the northern section of Union Township and has several hikes that link with Black Moshannon State Park.

The aforementioned Bald Eagle Creek runs also right through the borough and is known by its residents as a hot bed for trout fishing.

“I can’t believe how many people I meet that come to Unionville just for the fishing,” Stefflre said. “Almost every single day during the summer there are people down by the creek fishing.”

Another favorite place for Stefflre is the Coach Darren Spotts Memorial Soccer Fields. Located at 412 Race St., the soccer fields provide an opportunity for lovers of “the beautiful game” to practice their respective sport.

Also located at the fields is a pavilion and flag memorial for the United States military branches, constructed by Eagle Scout and former Unionville resident Dylan Zink.

Allegra Oldenburg, a newcomer to Unionville, agrees with longtime residents like Stefflre who praise the town’s authenticity.

“Having just moved to the area, my dog and I try to take walks through town every evening to stay active and familiarize myself with the place,” Oldenburg said. “Every time I take that walk I meet someone new or get greeted by someone I’ve already met, and that’s unbelievable to me. I love the people here and how genuine they are.”

Despite coming from a city that had seemingly everything, the lack of restaurants, grocery stores and other things traditionally found near urban settings has been a breath of fresh air for Oldenburg.

“I never envisioned myself living in a place like this, but it’s perfect,” she said. “Unionville is definitely a place for people to relax, take a deep breath and slow down. A slower lifestyle prevails here, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Everyone helps everyone, because at the end of the day we’re all just trying to get by.”