Centre Furnace Ironworks & Mansion Timeline

Located in Aaronsburg

Colonels Samuel Miles and John Patton built Centre Furnace and we believe the first home, likely a two story log home, on the site. Patton was the resident iron master and Miles lived in Philadelphia.

First charcoal ironmaking operation in what is now Centre County

Centre County is established and named after Centre Furnace

Joseph Miles (son of Samuel) and his cousin, Joseph Green, became managers; Miles lived at Centre Furnace

Moses Thompson dies in 1891

Boalsburg Village is laid out and developed between 1809-1848

Mary Irvin Thompson dies in 1890

Furnace reopened by Joseph Miles and Joseph Green, Joseph Green, Jr. and wife, Catherine Miles Green lived at Centre Furnace; he served as resident manager. His father, described as an architect, builder, and carpenter, is credited with building the Centre Furnace stack, the Milesburg Iron Works, and the Harmony Forge Mansion. He may have been the builder of the more permanent ‘mansion house’ at Centre Furnace during this period.

The Forgeman’s Union

Area becomes Axeman

Joseph Green, Jr. and S. Miles Green served as managers of Centre Furnace during the 1830s

James Irvin and his father, John Irvin, bought Joseph Miles’ interest in Centre Furnace; General William Houston buys Joseph Green’s interest

S. Miles Green continued to serve as manager

General William Houston, joint owner with the Irvin’s, lived at Centre Furnace

The couple marries on January 4, 1838

James Irvin is full owner of Centre Furnace with purchased William Houston’s interest in Centre Furnace

Sarah Irvin Thompson dies in 1887

Elizabeth McFarlane Thompson dies in 1915

Moses Thompson purchased 1/3 Irvin’s Centre Furnace interest; with wife Mary Irvin, and daughters Sara and Elizabeth, moved into mansion

John Irvin Thompson dies in 1916

James Thompson dies in 1848

Anna Eliza Thompson dies in 1905

Mary Thompson dies in 1854

William Thompson dies in 1912

Moses Thompson owns 50% of Centre Furnace Mansion

Establishment of the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania on 200 acres of Centre Furnace land; 150 guests entertained; papers believed to have been signed in the east front parlor

Irvin suffered severe financial losses, Thompson survived

Evan Pugh is named first president of Penn State. First Class at Penn State.

Bellefonte/Snow Shoe Line is the first railroad line in Centre County

Thompson served as secretary to Board of Farmers High School from 1859—1865

Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1962 signed by President Lincoln

Moses Thompson acquires remaining 50% of Centre Furnace after Irvin’s death

Mansion Victorianized throughout the 1860s: Gothic–style dormers added; front windows lowered; Italianate brackets added to extended roof; balconies and large front porch with gingerbread trim

Thompson served as treasurer for Farmers High School/Agricultural College from 1867—1874

Grades 1-8

Thompson sold 300 acres of land to Andrew Carnegie for development of Scotia

Thompson described as largest landowner in county, including 6000 acres in heart of the valley (including virtually all of State College, most of Penn State land, and ½ of College Township).

With son John, Moses Thompson laid out village of Lemont

20 acres purchased to begin Grange Tenting Fair in Centre Co

Mary and Moses son William and family lived in Mansion through 1912. The second story side porch was enclosed at this time.

PA Match Factory established in Bellefonte

William Thompson was tragically killed in an automobile accident in NY

Madison Garver purchased Mansion for his son, David, two years after death of William Thompson

Bellefonte second stop - airmail from NY to Chicago 1919—1927

David and wife, Anita Imboden-Garver, acquire the deed, move into and remodel the Centre Furnace Mansion [at that time called “The Evergreens”]; David lived in house until his death in 1975. Garver operates a swimming pool, dance hall, roller rink, gas station, barbeque stand and boarding house at various times from the 1920’s through the 70’s

Acquisition of the Mansion as a bequeath from David Garver, CCHS headquarters moves into the Mansion

Centre Furnace Mansion and Stack are placed on the National Register of Historic Places

As restoration begins, the Mansion begins to open to the public in stages

All Thompson Family Reunion at the Centre Furnace Mansion, 105 attended