Cornwall Iron Furnace Assoc. to present program on iron master Curttis Grubb

A free presentation exploring the life and legacy of 18th-century ironmaster Curttis Grubb will be offered both in-person and online on Aug. 12.

The Cornwall Iron Furnace Associates will host “Curttis Grubb” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor and via Zoom. Registration is required due to limited seating.

Michael Weber, a volunteer guide and researcher at Cornwall Iron Furnace, will present the program focusing on Grubb’s contributions and controversies as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Grubb served as ironmaster at Cornwall Furnace from 1765 until his death in 1789, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the facility’s history. The eldest son of Peter Grubb, he also held the rank of colonel in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War.

“Besides his positive contributions to society, some respected members of society considered him a scoundrel,” according to the program description.

Weber, a 1982 Penn State geosciences graduate, worked 36 years as a geologist, health physicist and manager for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Geological Survey. After retiring from federal service, he returned to Cornwall Furnace as a volunteer guide and researcher specializing in mining history and geology.

Weber is currently researching Grubb as part of a Cornwall Furnace history book project.

The presentation is free, though donations are appreciated. Registration information is available through Cornwall Iron Furnace Associates.