Harbison-Walker Refractories Company
Also known as: Haws,W.H.,Refractories Company
Why it's listed
Along the northwest edge of Mount Union, on the east flank of Jacks Mountain, sits a refractory brick complex built in two adjacent works. The W.H. Haws Company of Johnstown began the plant in 1898-99, and in 1900 Harbison and Walker of Pittsburgh acquired the entire property. It was the first works in the United States built exclusively for refractory brick manufacture. The No. 2 works was begun in 1903 and completed in 1905, and the two plants were designed to run independently. By 1910 the combined operation employed more than 600 men and could produce 150,000 bricks a day. Two railroads served the site: the East Broad Top supplied coal for the kilns and boilers, and the Pennsylvania Railroad handled shipments. The district is regarded as a good example of a refractory complex because it keeps its original storage sheds, production buildings and offices, and its kilns remain connected by underground heating tunnels. Its ganister rock supply and its early origin give it local importance.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be eligible for its association with an important Huntingdon County industry, the refractory brick trade. The complex retains its original arrangement of storage sheds, production buildings and offices, which the nomination says makes it a good example of a refractory complex. The plant is described as the first works in the United States built exclusively for refractory brick manufacture, and it operated from 1899 through 1985.
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 90000392, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Shirley St., Mount Union |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000392 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1899-1939 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Several major production buildings, including the No. 1 and No. 2 works, are described as currently abandoned; the plant is said to have operated through 1985. |
| Acreage | 21 |
| Coordinates | 40.38632, -77.88930 (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 90000392.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5654511
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.