Rockland Furnace
Why it's listed
Rockland Furnace is a cut-stone iron furnace built in 1832 on the west bank of Shull Run, about a quarter mile above its meeting with the Allegheny River in Venango County. Its stack stands roughly 25 feet square and 25 feet tall, with a cast arch and a tuyere arch facing the stream, and it sits on the wooded valley floor below a cliff that once supported the charging ramp. Beside it lie a well-preserved race, running about 50 feet from the stream, and a wheel pit that powered the blast. The furnace was built by Andrew McCaslin and later operated by several firms, most notably the Davis brothers, until it was blown out in 1854. It is regarded as representative of the westward spread of Pennsylvania's iron industry and, for its engineering, as one of the most intact furnaces in Western Pennsylvania. Little has happened on the site since 1854.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the furnace is a representative example of the westward expansion of the Pennsylvania iron industry, and one of the most intact iron furnaces in Western Pennsylvania and the best preserved in Venango County. It is also significant for engineering, as the furnace and its surviving race and wheel pit demonstrate the distinctive characteristics of their type. The property is said to retain good integrity although no specific preservation efforts have been made.
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 91001139, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | On Shull Run N of the Allegheny R., NW of Emlenton, Emlenton |
|---|---|
| County | Venango County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001139 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1832-1854 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No activity at the site since the furnace was blown out in 1854; the furnace is substantially intact but shows some deterioration, including a bow in the northeast facade and tree growth on the stack. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.23414, -79.74891 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 91001139.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7355445
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.