News and Recent Events
New Executive Director
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Restoration of Warriors Mark Run
Meet our new executive director! Dave Petit, a Bedford County resident, previously worked for 14 years at Old Bedford Village as its site manager and blacksmith. A Marine veteran, trained archeologist and Pennsylvania iron industry historian, he has been involved with Colerain Center since 2022, leading tours of Colerain Forges Mansion, organizing living history events, and conducting historical and archeological research.
“We are excited to have Dave Petit as an extraordinary addition to the Colerain Center,” Colerain Center Board President Jerry Zolten said. “He brings to the table not only a deep knowledge of Pennsylvania industrial history but also an exceptional ability to talk about it and to demonstrate hands-on in the old ways.”
Restoration of Warriors Mark Run
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Restoration of Warriors Mark Run
Thanks to the Fish and Wildlife Partners Program, the banks of our beautiful creek are stabilized against erosion, invasive plants are gone, and it's now a Class A brown trout stream!
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Dave Petit, the site manager and blacksmith at Old Bedford Village near Bedford, is generously working with us on piecing together the early history of the mansion and the surrounding iron-making village, drawing from his research into the life of mansion owner and ironmaster William McDermott and his place in the local iron industry during the 1830s. We hope to have Dave talk about central Pennsylvania's iron-making heritage and his traditional blacksmithing.
The Passing of Dorothy Gray Gurney
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
Partnership with Old Bedford Village's Dave Petit
Dorothy purchased Colerain in 1988 and dedicated the rest of her life to restoring the mansion to its historic grandeur, preserving the natural environment and creek as well as the historic gardens and grounds. She died January 2, 2022.
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
Artists-in-Residence alums, Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever returned to Colerain Mansion for a free concert on June 30, 2022.
Alice Howe and Freebo in concert at the mansion
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
Maddie Finn and Marshall Biever Return to Colerain
In August of 2021, the Colerain Center hosted an outdoor concert by Alice Howe, a dynamic Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist, and Freebo, a veteran rock and folk musician who played bass in Bonnie Raitt's band during the 1970s and then with numerous stars over his career, including Dr. John, Ringo Starr, Neil Young and Maria Muldaur. About 75 people enjoyed a beautiful summer evening of incredible music from the mansion's front porch.