Charcoal Iron Furnace & Forge Locations in Centre County
Centre County’s iron industry began with the building of Centre Furnace in 1791 – only the second charcoal iron furnace in the area known as the Juniata Iron Region. The region had been scouted for its raw materials potential, and entrepreneurs found everything they needed in central Pennsylvania. They came looking for the success and wealth that had characterized the charcoal iron business in southeastern Pennsylvania. Those entrepreneurs were on target. Although the charcoal iron industry required a sizable amount of start-up capital, that investment was soon recouped.
Charcoal Iron Furnace/Forge Locations in Centre County
(In some cases dates approximate)
Municipality | Name | Years of Operation | Location | Owners: | Remains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | College | Centre Furnace | (1792-1809; 1826-1858) | Thompson Run (Willy Brook), East College Avenue and Porter Road | (1) John Patton & Samuel Miles, (2) James Irvin & Moses Thompson | mansion and stack |
2 | Ferguson | Tussey Furnace | (1810-1818) | Slab Cabin Run, Pine Grove Mills (intersection of #26 & 45) | no remains | |
3 | Ferguson | Pennsylvania Furnace | (1815-1914?) | Spruce Creek, Route 45 at Centre/Huntingdon line | Lyon, Shorb & Co. | mansion in Huntingdon Co.; furnace remains Centre Co. – mound |
4 | Benner | Rock Iron Works | (1793-1852) | Spring Creek/Rockview lands | Philip Benner | no remains |
5 | Benner | Turner Iron Works | (1794-1807) | Spring Creek at Roopsburg | Daniel Turner | no remains |
6 | Spring | Logan Furnace | (1797-1842) | Logan Branch, Route #144, near Pleasant Gap | (1) John Dunlop, (2) Valentine & Thomas | mansion (on #144); few remains, west side Logan Branch |
7 | Bellefonte | Valentine and Thomas Iron Works | (1798–1887) | Logan Branch, Bellefonte | (1) John Dunlop, (2) Valentine & Thomas | now location of Cerro Brass; 3 ironmaster properties & office; Valentine mansion – west side Logan Branch; Forge House – east side; Office – east side; Thomas mansion near Gamble Mill |
8 | Walker | Hecla Furnace | (1825-1857) | Fishing Creek | few remains – Nittany Country Club | |
9 | Boggs | Harmony Forge | (1795-1882+) | Spring Creek – between Bellefonte and Milesburg | mansion along Spring Creek, canal remnant; no remains of furnace | |
10 | Boggs | Milesburg Iron Works | (1797-) | Spring & Bald Eagle Creeks | John and Joseph Miles; Joseph Green | no remains |
11 | Boggs | Eagle Iron Works | (1810-1921) | Bald Eagle Creek | Roland Curtin | restored: mansion, stack, casting house; workers houses, canal |
12 | Howard | Howard Iron Works | (1830-1889) | Bald Eagle Creek - #220 | few remains (Sayers Dam) | |
13 | Huston | Julian Furnace | (1832-1858) | Bald Eagle Creek - #220 | no remains | |
14 | Huston | Martha Furnace | (1831-1855) | Bald Eagle Creek - #220 | mansion and substantial remains of stack | |
15 | Taylor | Hannah Furnace | (1830-1850) | Bald Eagle Creek - #220 | mansion (large frame); remains of stack near Hannah United Methodist | |
16 | Philipsburg | Cold Stream Forge/Furnace | (1817-1854) | on Cold Stream | Hardman Philips | Philips mansion – now “Halehurst” |
17 | Philipsburg | Plumbe Forge | (1828-1842) | Six Mile Run | John Plumbe | no remains |
18 | Spring | Bellefonte cold-fire Furnace | (1888-1891) | Coleville | no remains | |
19 | Patton | Scotia – Iron Mining Village | (1881-1912) | west of #322 | few remains; manager’s house on route #550 |