Sheetz Reveals Plan for Sarah Furnace Property

The historic Sarah Furnace property at the intersection of Dunnings Highway and Quarry Road in Sproul is about to spring to life after nearly eight years of serving as a deteriorating symbol to the past from its lonely spot on the side of the road. The once vibrant 21-room mansion and surrounding buildings, the few remaining links to the area’s iron ore days ,faced an uncertain future as the changing climates of each season began to take its toll and the once grand showcase started slowly eroding into history.

Hope for a rebirth came when Sheetz, with its headquarters in Sarah Furnace’s line of sight, bought the property in 2020 followed by the announcement earlier this summer that it planned to renovate the mansion and mule barn, and eventually the other buildings.

While the renovation announcement didn’t provide details about the property’s future use, this week Sheetz said it will convert the mansion into a bed and breakfast for company staff visiting from out of town.

Claysburg historian Rich Allison has long advocated for Sarah Furnace to be saved and said when Sheetz initially purchased the property, he was hopeful they would recognize its historical significance and preserve it for future generations to appreciate. While the renovation announcement allowed Allison to breathe a sigh of relief that the structures would be saved from the wrecking ball, Sheetz plans for its future use may not be what he initially envisioned, but said he is not disappointed.

“The whole facility is going to be for Sheetz use for when employees come in from out of town to visit headquarters,” Allison said. “That being said, I am so happy with the whole concept of what they are doing.”

Allison has been involved in helping guide Sheetz officials through the process of figuring out what to do with the Sarah Furnace property and said the final vision is one only a company like Sheetz could accomplish.

“There is no other company or individual in the area that could pull this off financially,” Allison said. “I am forever grateful to Sheetz for doing this for the community, for getting it saved and fixed up.”

Allison said even though the property will not be open to the public, the fact that it will once again stand tall on the grounds it was built upon nearly 200 years ago gives the community some ownership because it will serve as a standing legacy to the area’s rich past.

Allison said beyond the significance of preserving history, the Sarah Furnace renovation project will be a boost to the local economy.

“There will probably be three years of construction that will pour money into the area,” he said. “It will create jobs and create a new tax base.”

Sheetz CEO/President Travis Sheetz previously stated that the company appreciates the history behind the Sarah Furnace property and its place in the hearts of area residents.

“We are proud to bring these historic buildings back to life because they have so much meaning to the people of Claysburg,” Sheetz said.

Construction on the Sarah Furnace property is expected to begin next spring.