House at Upper Laurel Iron Works
Also known as: Site #49-10
Why it's listed
Built into the hillside above Buck Run in Newlin Township, Chester County, the House at Upper Laurel Iron Works is a plain stone building with stucco and a gable roof. Its upper floor, reached by a centered entrance on the southeast side, is one large room with a fireplace, and the ground floor opens onto the river side. The house is the only surviving building of the Laurel Iron Works, a forge recorded on Buck Run from 1793 that operated until about 1890. The site passed through the Pyle, Steele and duPont families, and at its peak the two iron works employed about 75 men. The building is listed for its association with this iron industry, which was the major enterprise on the site for more than a century. Nearby stone foundations and iron slag mark the vanished works. The house was vacant at the time of the survey and was in fair condition.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with the iron industry that flourished at this location on Buck Run for more than a century. It is the only building from that industrial complex to survive with its primary components intact. Its historical associations with the Laurel forge and rolling mill are the basis for its listing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002371, listed September 16, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | McCorkel's Rock Rd., Newlin Twp. |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 16, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002371 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant at the time of the survey; the house was reported to be in fair condition and its new owner had made plans for rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.93336, -75.77934 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002371.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914554
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.