August, Wendell, Forge
Why it's listed
Built in 1932 in Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, the Wendell August Forge is a one-story, gabled, steel-frame manufacturing building with a rock-faced cast concrete block exterior and a poured concrete floor. Its interior is lit by a glazed roof monitor and steel-frame windows, and coal-fired forges once lined the factory floor, with as many as thirteen in use in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The forge was founded by Wendell August, who moved his hand-forged metalware business from Brockway to Grove City, where it began producing hammered aluminum. Craftsman Otto Pisoni is credited with developing the techniques for hand forging aluminum in the mid-1920s. The company's gift wares and architectural pieces, including teller windows and bank fixtures, helped establish hammered aluminum as a decorative art. The property is significant for this role in the development of American hand-hammered aluminum goods. Several craftsmen trained here went on to found their own firms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the forge is significant for its early production of hand-hammered aluminum for decorative arts and architectural ornamentation, associated with the Moderne and Art Deco styles of the 1930s. It is described as among the leaders in designing and producing hammered aluminum gift wares, and as one of the largest and oldest hand forge operations in the United States.
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 96001192, listed November 7, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 620 Madison St., Grove City |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | November 7, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001192 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-1940 |
| Architectural style | no style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The business was in operation and produces hand-hammered products in the original forge building; the forge closed during World War II and reopened in 1946. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.16597, -80.06407 (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 96001192.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7982382
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.