Centre Furnace

Centre Furnace, established in 1792, was the original iron plantation in Centre County. In fact, the county was named after it. Today it houses the Centre County Historical Society. Even though the house was constructed in 1830, the property was modified in Victorian traditions in 1865. The Moses Thompson family moved into the Centre Furnace Mansion in 1842, when he assumed the role of ironmaster. Although Centre Furnace ceased production in 1858, a member of the Thompson family lived in the property until 1912.

The wealth that was produced by Centre Furnace and the other iron plantations in the area was instrumental in the wealth displayed in Bellefonte today, as well as the growth of the county itself. The plantation served as the location for many social gatherings of the ironmasters, events at which major decisions were made and significant business transacted. It was here that General James Irvin donated 250 acres to build the Farmeras High School, promote most robust agriculture in the region. Today, that institution is Penn State.

Current exhibits at Centre Furnace include aEveryday Iron: Iron Objects of the 18th and 19th centuries,a The Centre Furnace Story and Tools for Woodworking. The main block of the Georgian, five-bay, 2 A1/2 story, Centre Furnace Mansion appears as it would have in 1830. Together, the mansion and outbuildings that are still present a picture of mansion living throughout the 19th century. The furnace stack, although not now a part of the property, still stands in a prominent place as a visual reminder of the roots of Penn State.

Year Established
1792