Buchanan Furnace
Why it's listed
Buchanan Furnace is a charcoal-fired iron furnace standing in an open meadow on the north bank of the Clarion River, about three-fifths of a mile north of Callensburg in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1844, it had two tuyeres, a nine-foot bosh, and a stack about 33 feet high, with a maximum production of 1,200 tons a year. Its operators in 1850 were S. F. Plummer and F. G. Crary of Kittaning and Arnold Plummer of Franklin, and Crary became sole proprietor by 1857. The furnace was blown out for good in 1858, when the declining economy and the exhaustion of nearby wood for charcoal led to its abandonment. It is significant for its place in the spread of ironmaking west of the Alleghenies, a period when much of Clarion County's thirty-one furnaces were built, most of them between 1840 and 1850. The stack is regarded as the most intact iron furnace stack in the county. Partial deterioration at the top and collapse above the tuyere arch are noted, but the four corners remain intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the furnace is significant under Criterion A for industry as a representative example of the westward expansion of the iron industry beyond the Alleghenies. It also cites Criterion C for engineering, describing it as the most intact iron furnace stack in Clarion County and as demonstrating the mason's craftsmanship.
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 91001129, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 378 at Clarion R., Licking Township, Callensburg |
|---|---|
| County | Clarion County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001129 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1844-1858 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned by 1858; the stack shows good integrity with some deterioration at the top, and the tuyere arch is in poor condition with partial masonry collapse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.13162, -79.55858 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91001129.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4982577
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.