Clarion County - The Lumber Heritage Region - North West & North Central PA

Quick Story

The forests and waterways of Clarion County played an important role in moving timber and supporting local sawmills during the lumber boom. Today, reminders of that history can still be found throughout the county’s communities and historic landmarks.

Why This Marker Is Significant

Clarion County’s historical markers celebrate the communities, industries, and natural resources that shaped life in northwestern Pennsylvania. Each marker offers a glimpse into the people and events that left a lasting impact on the region.

Then and Now

Historic Image of the town of Clarion — Historical photograph

Stop #1 – Helen Furnace

Just west of this point can be seen the well-preserved interior of cold blast furnace built in 1845. It was one of numerous iron furnaces operated in Clarion County from about 1829-1867. The County, then, was often referred to as “The Iron County.”

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Discovering Lumber Hertitage Through History and Education

Stop #2 – Clarion County

Formed March 11, 1839 out of Armstrong and Venango counties. Named for the Clarion River. Early center of iron industry. Noted also for its coal resources and lumbering. The county seat, Clarion, was incorporated as a borough on April 6, 1841.

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Stop #3 – Buchanan Furnace

A short distance NW of here is the well-preserved cold blast furnace, named for James Buchanan. It was built in 1844; abandoned, 1858, due to lack of timber. At the time of its operation, the iron industry was very prosperous in Clarion County.

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Stop #4 – Foxburg Golf Course

Oldest golf course in continuous use in the U.S. In 1887, land was made available to the newly formed Foxburg Golf Club by Joseph M. Fox, its first president. Course was enlarged from five to nine holes in 1888. The Foxburg Country Club purchased, in 1924, the original land which it had been leasing.

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Stop #5 – Parkers Landing Petroglyphs

Many generations of native people visited rocks along the Allegheny River near here to inscribe images of humans, animals, mythological creatures, and abstract forms. The number and variety of designs and the undeveloped surrounding landscape make them unique. Although submerged most of the year, they provide a significant record of the legends and beliefs of people who lived and traveled in Pennsylvania thousands of years ago.

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Stop #6 – Rural Electrification

In 1936 seventy-five percent of Pennsylvania farms had no electric service. During the next five years, with Federal support, 14 consumer-owned cooperatives were formed in this State. Serving users in seven counties of western Pennsylvania, Central Electric Cooperative at Parker was incorporated July 12, 1937.

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Stop #7 – Brady’s Bend

Named for Capt. Samuel Brady (1756-1795), famed frontier scout and the subject of many legends. Near here in June 1779 — in what was then Seneca territory — he led a force seeking to redress the killing of a settler and her four children, and the taking of two children as prisoners. The force surrounded a party of seven Indians — apparently both Seneca and Munsee — killing their leader (a Munsee warrior) and freeing the two children.

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Stop #8 – Fishbasket Indian Town

Near here, at the mouth of Town Run on Redbank Creek, a Shawnee village stood in the late 18th century. Called “Fishbasket” for these waters’ immense schools of fish, it was at the junction of at least two major paths traveled by Native Americans: the Frankstown-Venango and Punxsutawney-Venango Paths. Prehistoric fortified Indian villages, revealed by archaeological investigations, also existed in this locale.

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Clarion County,

Quick Story

Why This Marker Is Significant

Then and Now

Stop #1 – Helen Furnace

Stop #2 – Clarion County

Stop #3 – Buchanan Furnace

Stop #4 – Foxburg Golf Course

Stop #5 – Parkers Landing Petroglyphs

Stop #6 – Rural Electrification

Stop #7 – Brady’s Bend

Stop #8 – Fishbasket Indian Town

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