the foxburg free library
local history
The Land
Foxburg lies in the rural scenic valleys of the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers. The town of Foxburg is approximately 55 miles north of Pittsburgh. The area was rich in natural resources including lumber, oil, and natural gas, which were shipped along the Allegheny River in route to Pittsburgh. The natural resources created fortunes for some early entrepreneurs. The Purchase
In 1785, the Land Office of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued a warrant for a piece of 1,100 acres of land along the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers. The purchaser was Samuel Mickle Fox from Philadelphia.
Foxburg lies in the rural scenic valleys of the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers. The town of Foxburg is approximately 55 miles north of Pittsburgh. The area was rich in natural resources including lumber, oil, and natural gas, which were shipped along the Allegheny River in route to Pittsburgh. The natural resources created fortunes for some early entrepreneurs. The Purchase
In 1785, the Land Office of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued a warrant for a piece of 1,100 acres of land along the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers. The purchaser was Samuel Mickle Fox from Philadelphia.
Aside from the mansion, the Fox's built carriage houses, stables, an ice house, a greenhouse, barns, a log cabin for a play area for the Fox children, and a complete arboretum. The Fox's built the first arboretum in the Commonwealth and obtained a specimen from each indigenous tree to the area. The Mansion was kept within the Fox family until 1967. Since 1967, the mansion has been owned by several families. The stables, barn, and an arena for horses were used as a therapy school for physically challenged persons. Currently, the Fox Estate is privately owned.
Samuel Mickle Fox was a member of the Colonial Assembly. Governor Thomas Mifflin signed the deed for this property for the sum of "five pounds, six shillings, nine pence". Samuel Mickle Fox acquired another 18,000 acres along the valley.
The Fox Estate
In 1820, Joseph Mickle Fox, son of Samuel Mickle Fox married Hannah Emlen of Philadelphia and eventually built a summer home in Clarion County. They built the Fox Mansion completely out of materials obtained from their land, which was completed in 1828.
In 1820, Joseph Mickle Fox, son of Samuel Mickle Fox married Hannah Emlen of Philadelphia and eventually built a summer home in Clarion County. They built the Fox Mansion completely out of materials obtained from their land, which was completed in 1828.
The Fox Mansion was built completely
out of materials from the surrounding land
out of materials from the surrounding land
