Colerain Forges Mansion
Why it's listed
A Federal style mansion near Franklinville in Huntingdon County, built in four main sections between the late 1700s and the 1860s-1870s, with a stone mid-section that is the oldest part. Its symmetrical south front has five bays, sidelights at both entrances, and a round-columned porch across the facade. The house served as the residence of the ironmasters of Colerain Forge, which was established along Spruce Creek in the 1810s and later consolidated under the name Colerain Forges. David Stewart, the long-time manager, lived here from about 1830 until his death in 1869. Production records from 1828 to 1860 show total output of 29,661 tons of blooms, with census values exceeding $60,000 in a single year. The house is regarded as the only surviving structure of the forge operation and as a largely unaltered example of ironmaster housing. Its stone outbuilding, dating before 1874, also remains.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the only surviving resource of the Colerain Forges ironworks, which stood across the road, and that it is a relatively unaltered ironmaster's mansion tied to a major iron enterprise. It is also presented as a fine example of mid nineteenth century Federal architecture in the county. The forge's size and the residence's scale are cited as evidence of the wealth the iron business generated.
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 90000406, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 45, 0.75 mi. S of Franklinville, Franklinville |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000406 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1810-1874 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Heirs of Stewart still owned and occupied the residence after 1874; the forges closed that year and no visible remains of the forge operation survive. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.63905, -78.09976 (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 90000406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5144599
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.