Blair County Historic House to Display Slinky Exhibits After Council Approval

The Reiser House in Hollidaysburg's Canal Basin Park will soon host exhibits honoring Slinky's history after a community compromise.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:56am

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A dreamlike, impressionistic photograph showing the blurred outlines of Slinky toys in various poses, set against a hazy, out-of-focus background of historic canal artifacts and architecture, conveying a sense of playful nostalgia and the merging of old and new.The new Slinky exhibits at the Reiser House aim to balance the town's canal history with the iconic toy's legacy, drawing visitors to explore both.Hollidaysburg Today

The Hollidaysburg Borough Council has approved a plan to display Slinky exhibits in the Reiser House, a historic building in the town's Canal Basin Park. The initial proposal to fully convert the house into a Slinky museum faced community backlash, leading to a compromise that will split the first floor, keeping the existing canal exhibits while adding new Slinky displays and a play area.

Why it matters

The Reiser House has struggled with low attendance, and the new Slinky exhibits are expected to bring more visitors to the historic site. However, the decision to incorporate Slinky history has been controversial, with some community members concerned about losing the canal-focused exhibits that currently occupy the space.

The details

Under the approved plan, the first floor of the Reiser House will be split in half, with the existing canal exhibits remaining in one room and the new Slinky displays and play area occupying the other. Council member Brady Leahey said the compromise will allow the canal history to stay while also incorporating the Slinky exhibits. Some community members, including the Blair County Historical Society Executive Director Dustin Smith, had initially opposed the idea, arguing that it would result in the loss of too much of the town's past. However, Slinky creator Richard James's daughter Rebekah spoke in support of the project, saying it should honor her family's history while respecting the existing exhibits.

  • The Hollidaysburg Borough Council tabled the decision at its last meeting in March to hear more community feedback.
  • The council plans to have the Slinky display up by summer.

The players

Hollidaysburg Borough Council

The local government body that approved the plan to display Slinky exhibits in the Reiser House.

Brady Leahey

A council member who explained the compromise plan to split the first floor of the Reiser House between canal and Slinky exhibits.

Dustin Smith

The executive director of the Blair County Historical Society, who initially opposed the idea of converting the Reiser House into a Slinky museum.

Rebekah James

The daughter of Slinky creator Richard James, who spoke in support of the project and said it should honor her family's history while respecting the existing exhibits.

Chad Repko

The mayor of Hollidaysburg, who said the new Slinky feature could bring more visitors to the Reiser House.

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What they’re saying

“All the canal stuff would stay, but we would move in Slinky exhibits. We would divide the room off. The canal exhibits would stay where they are. It's one room. It's the largest room.”

— Brady Leahey, Council member

“That's the community saying, we've lost too much of our past because of ideas like this, and we're not going to stand for it.”

— Dustin Smith, Blair County Historical Society Executive Director

“It's going to attract people. It's going to get exposure for the town. I don't think the Reiser House has been talked about a long time.”

— Chad Repko, Mayor

“What we have is not fancy and it's simple. It's sort of like the slinky. It's very simple, but it may be interesting. We're doing it to add to the canal basin. Not to eliminate, destroy, distract.”

— Rebekah James

What’s next

The council said the Slinky exhibit would be removed if the Reiser House and Canal Basin Park are included in the National Parks system, which some residents have taken steps to pursue.

The takeaway

The compromise to display Slinky exhibits in the Reiser House highlights the delicate balance between honoring a town's history and embracing new attractions that could bring more visitors. The decision reflects the community's desire to preserve the canal-focused exhibits while also recognizing the potential draw of the iconic Slinky toy.