Mount Vernon Furnace
Why it's listed
Mount Vernon Furnace is a stone blast furnace near Wooddale in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, standing on a narrow terrace below a hill beside a small stream at the headwaters of Mountz Creek. The furnace is about 24 feet square at the base and roughly 33 feet high, with two arches. Its casting arch faces southeast, and an iron lintel over the tuyere arch on the southwest side bears the inscription MT VN 1801, the year the furnace was rebuilt. It was constructed in 1795 and blown out in 1825 after producing pig iron and castings. The shaped stone lintels over the arches are regarded as among the best executed of any Pennsylvania iron furnace. Its importance also rests on its link to ironmaster Isaac Meason, whose enterprises included Union Furnace and the Plumsock Rolling Mill, which began operating in 1817. The furnace is the only surviving intact structure of his regional industrial network. Ore came from Ore Mine Hill, about three quarters of a mile south.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the furnace is significant for its role in the growth of the Pennsylvania iron industry in Fayette County and western Pennsylvania (Criterion A, industry), as an excellent example of a stone blast furnace with an unusual shaped lintel construction (Criterion C, engineering), and for its association with ironmaster Isaac Meason (Criterion B). It is described as the sole remaining intact structure of Meason's industrial network.
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 91001127, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Entsey Rd. E of PA 982, Bullskin Township, Scottdale |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001127 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1795-1825 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The stack is substantially intact, though the northwest elevation has partially collapsed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.09603, -79.51027 (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 91001127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15260075
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.