Bellefonte Forge House

The BELLEFONTE FORGE HOUSE, also known as the "John Dunlop House" is located just South of Bellefonte, PA in Spring Township, Centre County. It was built in 1803 by an ironmaster, John Dunlop, who lived there with his wife and four daughters until he was accidently killed in a ore mine collapse in 1814.

This house is listed on the National Historic Registry: number 99001020.

Made of limestone, this two and 1/2 story house was constructed in the "Federal" or "Georgian" style and originally had nine fireplaces, but two were removed to make a more modern kitchen and bedroom. It is thought that a John G. Lowry was the architect as he was the only registered architect in the area at that time and was also in the employment of John Dunlop. Building receipts for the finish carpenter, John Patterson, can still be found in the Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte.

In the late 1700's and early 1800's Bellefonte became the center of a large iron industry and John Dunlop was one of the most energetic and prosperous of those that went into that business. In fact, it was his father, Lt.Col. James Dunlop, and his brother-in-law, James Harris, who actually laid out the town, now a Borough, of Bellefonte.

This home represents the wealth of those ironmasters, and after John Dunlop's death, his iron business was rented then bought by other ironmasters in the Valentine family.

The Bellefonte Forge House was continously used until after 1994 when it became the mark of vandels and animals. However, in 2001 it was restored to its past glory by a Michael Immel.

Today, the Bellefonte Forge House still overlooks water of Logan's Branch where John Dunlop first started his "Belle Font" furnace in 1797.

REFERENCES:

National Register of Historic Places, #99001020

Linn, John Blair, "History of Centre and Clinton Counties," Philadelphia, Louis Everts, 1883.

"Centre Daily Times" " "House has varied history," September 30, 1989.