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Other Garden Features.
Mclaughlin Gazebo.
Many, many people have helped in the restoration of the Centre Furnace Mansion and grounds for public use, but few have given more commitment than Lois and Everett McLaughlin. In 1993, a memorial gift of a gazebo was given in Lois's honor as a lasting tribute, given by the McLaughlin family – Everett, children Elliot and Robert McLaughlin, Pam McLaughlin Harner, their families, and by her many friends.
Gardens in the nineteenth century were described as "an earthly paradise," and a "a place of delight"; garden architecture, such as summer houses and gazebos, served as a location to savor and enjoy the quiet and the beauty of the landscape. The Lois McLaughlin Gazebo provides the same opportunity for Centre Furnace Mansion visitors in the twenty-first century.
Plant List
- Lilacs (see Laura's Lilac Bower)
- Hosta
- Ostrich Fern
- Sedum spectabilis
- Chrysanthemum
The Tool Sheds.
The two small structures behind and to the east of the Centre Furnace Mansion were seriously deteriorated, and were all that remained of what had been a collection of small accessory buildings at Centre Furnace. They were rescued by Penn State students through an American Studies hands-on restoration class, under the direction of faculty member Dick Pencek. One may have served as a garden-related building to an earlier nearby large orchard. It now is housing garden tools and supplies. The other now serves as an exhibit location for early tools. The gardens that border these historic sheds have been evolving over the past few years to include a variety of iris, hosta roses, bleeding heart among others. The sheds provide an interesting backdrop for a number of perennials.
Plant List
- Iris "Mt. Nittany Gold" (Iris germanica)
Ivy Bed.
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The large ivy bed on the west side of the mansion is sprinkled with English wood hyacinths (Scilla rosabella). It was created by John Ziegler and is a memorial gift from John and his wife, Jane, to honor their parents, Ray and Nellie Shockey and John and Sara Ziegler. In 2005, Marshall Garrett donated 100 mixed daffodils to be planted in the ivy bed on the PNC United Way Day of Caring. |
Plant List
- Rose "Louise Odier"
Front Steps.
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Historic Sycamore at Centre Furnace.
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Dominating the landscape at Centre Furnace is the ancient sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), located on the hill behind the Mansion. Probably 50 years older than the charcoal iron furnace that was built nearby, this sycamore began life sometime between 1736 and 1746. The tree was spared when the first cabin was built at Centre Furnace, providing shade to the mansion grounds for more than two centuries. On Arbor Day 1990, this exceptional specimen tree was pruned and its sweeping branches were cabled by local arborists to provide it with greater stability. One other giant sycamore, probably nearly as old, is located at Centre Furnace in front of the Mansion. More recent trees have been added. The sycamore surrounded by a bench, to the left of the entry path, was given in memory of Historical Society member and friend. Ned Shilling. A line of ten sycamores have been planted along East College Avenue in front of the mansion, to introduce a green corridor to visitors entering State College and Penn State. These ten trees were a gift of former Historical Society Board member Elizabeth Sweetow. |
Wildlife Garden.
The Wildlife Garden began as a class project of student's Joshua Beblo and Cody Brazell for the Integrative Arts Class at Penn State. They have taken on this garden as an ongoing project that they have seen through developing a plan and have begun work to renovate. Invasive plants, such as honeysuckle, will be gradually removed and more desirable native trees, shrubs and plants will be planted in their place.
The Wildlife Garden area will showcase both plants that grow in meadows and along the forest edge as well as plants you would find deeper in the forest. These plantings will also be wildlife friendly. Josh and Cody developed an educational brochure that highlighted their work here.
The Wildlife Garden currently consists of walnut, maple and locust trees, many invasive honeysuckle shrubs, and Virginia Creeper to name a few. During a student work day in September, the Integrative Arts Class cleared much of this area to prepare it for an initial planting and light layer of mulch to help the new plants become established. The planting and mulch was done during the 2006 PNC Bank-United Way Day of Caring.