Barree Forge and Furnace
Also known as: Greene Hills Methodist Camp
Why it's listed
Barree Forge and Furnace is an iron plantation in northern Huntingdon County on the Little Juniata River near Alexandria, Pennsylvania. Edward Bartholomew of Philadelphia bought the land in 1795, and his son-in-law Greenberry Dorsey established the forge, which took its name from old Barree Township. The Dorsey family and their heirs operated the works until 1874, when it was sold to A.L. Mumper of Bethlehem. A furnace was added in 1864, and its limestone stack, now partly collapsed, survives. The surviving ironmaster's mansion, built in the 1830s, overlooks the site. The district is significant for its association with the iron industry and for its archaeological remains, including slag piles, depressions and the stone and concrete remains of a dam on McClain's Run, which can reveal the layout of a forge and its production process. Barree Forge was among the most productive ironworks in the Juniata Valley, and its iron contributed to the reputation of Juniata iron.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is significant under Criterion A for its association with the iron industry in Huntingdon County, and under Criterion D for its archaeological remains, which can reveal the layout of a forge and its production process. Barree Forge is described as one of the Juniata Valley's most important ironworks, productive and financially stable under long single-family ownership.
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 90000405, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. N of Alexandria along the Juniata River, Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000405 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c.1797-1885 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | After the ironworks closed in the 1880s, most workers' houses and forge and furnace buildings were removed; the property was later operated as a summer camp by the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 40.58846, -78.10076 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 90000405.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4863301
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.