This guided tour of Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village will share the significant history of the most complete and last operating charcoal-fired, cold-blast iron furnace in Pennsylvania; the social structure of an iron plantation; the 19th-century iron-making process; the Curtin family’s role in the Civil War; the transportation network that supported and sustained the industry into the 20th century; and the architecture and lifestyle of the ironmasters and their employees.

Instructor: Sue Hannegan serves as the president of The Roland Curtin Foundation. In this role, she shares her passion for preserving and maintaining historic properties, her expertise in community revitalization, and her strong interest in sharing the stories of the people who contributed to central Pennsylvania’s extensive history. She is a graduate of Penn State and has served on various nonprofit boards, including the statewide Historic Preservation Board. She has been awarded recognition in both Clinton and Centre Counties for her work in historic preservation. Philip Ruth is a native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Bellefonte. He has worked as a historical researcher and writer for projects in the Commonwealth and surrounding states since 1986. He has been employed by CHRS, Inc. (a cultural resources management firm based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania) since 1995, and has served as director of research for that firm since 1998. In addition to serving as vice president of The Roland Curtin Foundation, Mr. Ruth plays a key role in documenting and interpreting the site.

Course fee includes $10 admission fee.