Ross Furnace
Why it's listed
A charcoal-fired iron furnace south of New Florence in Westmoreland County, on Tubmill Creek. The first furnace was built there in 1815 by James Paull, Col. J.D. Mathiot and Isaac Meason Jr. The surviving stone stack dates from 1842 and was built by Paul Meason and Col. Mathiot. The stack is about thirty feet high and twenty-five feet square at its base, with a triangular work arch and a Roman arch for the blast. The furnace produced pig iron, stoves, sugar kettles, pots, ovens and skillets, mostly sold regionally. Its rated capacity was 1100 tons, but it never produced more than 750. It was abandoned around 1850 to 1855, possibly because shipping its products without rail, canal or water routes was costly. It is regarded as significant for its link to the westward spread of the Pennsylvania iron industry, since western charcoal furnaces lasted long after eastern ones had closed. Its stonework is considered an exceptional engineering achievement. Golf course grading has disturbed the surrounding ground, but the stack retains good integrity.
Significance in brief: The furnace is argued to be significant under Criterion A for industry, as representative of the charcoal iron furnaces in western Pennsylvania that operated long after eastern furnaces were phased out. It is also argued to be significant under Criterion C for engineering, based on the quality of its stonework, including a triangular work arch and a Roman arch at the tuyere.
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 91001142, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Tubmill Reservoir off PA 711, Fairfield Township, West Fairfield |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001142 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1815-1855 |
| Architectural style | Iron furnace |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned around 1850-55; top of the stack capped with concrete; surrounding area disturbed by grading for a golf course. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.32598, -79.09021 (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 91001142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7369341
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.