Vincent Forge Mansion
Also known as: Young's Forge Mansion
Why it's listed
Built of coursed native fieldstone on a southern slope near French Creek, this two and one-half story house with a gable roof and wide center hall was probably completed by John and Susanna Young shortly after they took title to the forge property in 1770. It served first as an ironmaster's home and office, with the first floor used for forge business and the upper floors for family living. Its stonework was hidden under stucco from the 1850s until the covering was removed in 1981. The interior retains original Georgian chimney breast panelling, cove moldings, corner cupboards and a Queen Anne curved fireplace, and its details resemble those of other wealthy ironmasters' houses on French Creek. The house is the last surviving structure of the Vincent Forge, which operated from about 1760 to 1800, and is valued for its early date, fine masonry and largely intact interior.
Significance in brief: The house is regarded as an excellent example of rural Georgian architecture and an early pre-Revolutionary ironmaster's residence. Its stonework, original interior panelling and detailing, and plan show the standard of living of iron masters before the Revolution. The forge itself was one of the early iron works on French Creek that supplied iron during the period of independence.
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 85001003, listed May 9, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cook's Glen Rd. R.D., Spring City |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 9, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001003 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1770 |
| Architectural style | Georgian (rural Georgian, full country Georgian style) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored from a later stucco covering and dining hall removal in 1981; the document describes an ongoing restoration. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.15621, -75.64027 (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.
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 85001003.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7931797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.