Location(s)

 Curtin Village

Curtin Village was an iron plantation cummunity about 1810. founded by Roland Curtin, the last  old style furnace was in the U.S. was in "blast" here, in Centre County, PA. Curtin's 30,000 acres provided food for the entire community, and Curtin Village became largely self-sufficient.

The Pleasant Furnace was erected in 1848 to replace the original Eagle Furnace which was built in 1818. The furnace as destroyed by fire in 1921 and is believed to have been the last cold blast charcoal furnace to operate in the United States. The restored furnace complex includes a charging house, a blast house with overshot waterwheel, a flume, casting rooms and a tapping shed. During its heyday, about 600 tons a year of pig iron and cast-sheet and bar iron were produced. The Eagle Iron Works was an iron producing center from 1810 until 1921. 

The Ironmaster's Mansion was constructed in the Federal-style in 1830 by Roland Curtin. The Mansion possesses fifteen rooms, ten of which have been furnished with antiques and are open to the public. There are ten operable fireplaces in the Mansion, which retains its original woodwork, flooring and hardware. The Mansion walls are two (2) feet thick and are constructed of native field stone. The Mansion was occupied continuously by the Curtin family from 1830 until the early 1950's.

Guided tours are available.  It is located along Route 150 North, 2.8 miles northeast of the town of Milesburg, PA. It is located in a fairly rural area, the village is in an area that is not developed with modern housing or industrial sites right on top of it. So, take a step back in time and visit this historic site in central Pennsylvania. There are numerous Bed & Breakfast accomodations, as well as fine food restaurants in near-by Bellefonte historic village.  Train rides from Bellefonte to Curtin village are available through Bellefonte historic railroad, when in operation.

Call 814-355-1982 or 357-6981 for seasonal hours of operation for tours.

Photos by Mike Woodfin.  

Information about Curtin Village Courtesy of Gloria Briggs