The Historic Irwin Site

In 1856 Ellis Irwin, a merchant from Clearfield, and his brother William purchased a partially constructed saw mill and a dam across Lick Run. A store, blacksmith shop, and schoolhouse were built later and a thriving community surrounded the Irwin mills.

Ellis Irwin died sometime between 1903 and 1905 and the community ceased to exist sometime there after. It is not shown on a map dating to 1932. However, the property remains in the Irwin/Brinton family to this day.

Archaeological excavations uncovered foundations and artifacts from the Ellis Irwin house and the nearby blacksmith shop.

Read a detailed history of the property

Historic Artifacts from the Irwin Site

Most of the archaeological work at the house and blacksmith shop was done during preliminary surveys for the bridge replacement project. Because the bridge was designed to avoid disturbing the important areas of the site, no extensive data recovery excavations were required in this area.

Archaeology at the blacksmith shop

Archaeology at the Irwin house

Acknowledgments.
Photographs courtesy of the Irwin family.
Archaeological surveys at the house and blacksmith shop were conducted by Heberling Associates, Inc. in 1998 and 1999.