Pennsylvania Furnace Mansion
Also known as: Lyon Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1834 for ironmaster John Lyon, this L-shaped native limestone mansion stands at Pennsylvania Furnace, on the Huntingdon-Centre County line. Its three-and-a-half-story northeast front is strictly symmetrical, with a paneled entrance door framed by a transom and sidelights and three gable-roofed dormers. The rear ell rises to four stories on its southwest side, and a hip-roofed porch dating from about 1920 crosses the front. The house was occupied by three generations of the Lyon family, who owned and operated the furnace, which was founded in 1813 and used steam machinery from 1856 until its operation ceased in 1888. The mansion is the only standing structure associated with the furnace and its forging works. It is regarded as the largest and most architecturally detailed ironmaster's mansion in Huntingdon County, and as a fine example of Federal style architecture there. Its interior retains cast iron fireplace inserts and hand-made hardware.
Significance in brief: The house is described as the largest of Huntingdon County's ironmasters' houses and one of the best preserved, retaining Federal period detail such as cast iron fireplace inserts, hand-made hardware, and a transom and sidelights. It is the only standing structure associated with the furnace and related forging operations, and it is regarded as a fine example of Federal style architecture in the county.
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 90000409, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 45, S of Centre County line, Pennsylvania Furnace |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000409 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1834-1888 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house retains most of its period detail; a one-story stuccoed addition on the northwest side was apparently added after 1962. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70384, -78.01286 (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 90000409.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7163730
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.