Forge Farm, Old
Also known as: Zane's Furnace; Stephens Fort; marlboro Iron Works; 0.34-0125
Why it's listed
Old Forge Farm is a 29-acre property along Cedar Creek and Fawcett Run in Frederick County, Virginia, where settlement and industry layered over many centuries. Its centerpiece is a two-story limestone house, probably built in the mid-1700s and rebuilt within its original walls after a fire. Nearby are a rare hexagonal stone icehouse, locally called Stephens Fort, a hammer mill built around 1932 on earlier mill foundations, and the abutment of a covered bridge burned in 1930. The land was home to Lewis Stephens, who sheltered neighbors during the French and Indian War. Isaac Zane later developed the Marlboro Iron Works here into the largest industrial operation in the Shenandoah Valley, supplying ordnance to the Continental Army. The furnace site lies across Middle Road. Archaeological work in 2002 found evidence of occupation between 5000 B.C. and 1600 A.D. Together these resources document early settlement, industry and prehistoric life in the lower Shenandoah Valley.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under all four criteria. The property was linked to Lewis Stephens, who sheltered settlers during the French and Indian War, and to Isaac Zane, whose Marlboro Iron Works was the largest industrial operation in the Shenandoah Valley and supplied ordnance in the Revolution. The hexagonal icehouse is architecturally rare, and a 2002 survey found Archaic and Woodland period occupation.
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 04000036, listed February 11, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7326 Middle rd., Middletown |
|---|---|
| County | Frederick County |
| Listed | February 11, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000036 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 5000 B.C. - 1600 A.D.; ca. 1750-1954 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry, Historic - Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The dwelling is still in use as a single dwelling. The icehouse is in good condition and used for storage. The mill is in fragile condition. |
| Acreage | 29 |
| Coordinates | 39.07755, -78.32528 (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 04000036.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.