Fayette Iron Furnaces (group Info, Old cut stone iron furnaces)

Welcome to Fayette County Old Stone Furnaces

Click a furnace link below to read about the furnace and where to find it
Alliance
Breakneck
Brownfield
Buck's Run
Center Coolspring
Dunbar
Etna
Fairchance
Fairfield Fairview
Fayette
Finley
Huston
Jacob's Cr. Little Falls
Mary Ann
Mount Vernon
New Laurel
Old Laurel Old Valley(WV)
Pine Grove
Redstone
St. John's
Springhill
Union #1 Union #2 Wharton

Col. Holker's Iron Works Franklin Iron Works Turnbull's Iron Works

(WARNING: The information included below is not being maintained on this site. To insure the latest intended information is displayed click one of the three links below and you will be on our new web site)
Furnace Home
Furnace Index
Home

FAYETTE COUNTY
in Southwestern PENNSYLVANIA at one time had as many as twenty old Cut Stone Iron Furnaces. We have found and photographed 15 of them. The others have no remains visible. The Fayette list also includes a well preserved West Virginia iron furnace which is nearby. Of particular interest are Wharton and Mount Vernon, which are easy to find and have well defined mill races. Fayette is also easy to find and butts directly up to the creek. Coolspring has much of the inner brickwork exposed with only a few outer stones remaining. Alliance is a must see being the oldest furnace west of the Allegenies. The most fun find is a hike up Dunbar Creek to Center Furnace, which has a great wheel pit and some out building remains. Isaac Meason's mansion in Dunbar is worth a visit. A great hike in "bear" territory will get you down to St. John's and a nice waterfall. New Laurel is a nice drive up the mountain and a very interesting site.

Fayette Furnace

Alliance (aka Jacob's Creek, Alliance Iron Works, Turnbull's Iron Works, Colonel Holker's Iron Works) - probably the oldest furnace remains west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was built by William Turnbull, agent for Pennsylvania revolutionary war troops, John Holker (Holkar) of France, an agent general for the French Navy , and Peter Marmie, a French associate of Holker's. The construction was started before the land was owned. Turnbull took possession of three tracts of land of 301, 301 and 219 acres respectively in July 1789. Turnbull and Marmie took ownership of another 223 acres in nearby Lower Tyrone Township. It was blown in November 1789, and operated until 1802(s&t). S&t states "On Jan. 6, 1792, Gen. Henry Knox, Secy of War, suggested to Major Gen. Isaac Craig, (Pittsburgh) that he buy shot for six pounders from Turnbull and Marmie. Fifteen days later he said in another letter that he was not sorry he ordered the shot, and that he wanted to get proposals for cast shot, shell, cannon and howitzers, etc. The shot and shell was produced for Mad Anthony Wayne's expedition against the indians". The remains are along the south bank of Jacobs Creek, just across the creek from Westmoreland County, in Perry Township near the Youghiogheny River. The furnace is in very poor condition with all the external walls fallen down, with portions of only three showing. A good portion of the
inner stack lining is still visible. A large stone retaining wall for the charcoal house also exists. Much slag abounds but its condition, with inclusions of charcoal, wood and iron, suggest the operation was not efficient(s&t). (P)(V)(rp-1978, rp,ph-2003).
Follow PA51 south to PA981 to the east. This road joins PA51 about 200 yards south of the intersection of PA51 and Interstate 70. Follow PA51 for 2.1 miles to Second Street in Smithton and turn right. You will now be on SR3029 which you will follow 2.2 miles to the village of Jacobs Creek. Turn right and go 0.3 mile to a bridge to the right over Jacob's Creek. Cross the bridge and follow this road SR1002 3.6 miles to a dirt crossroad T568. There will be a Cross Road sign at this point.
N 40° 06.052' W079° 43.052'. There is a white house and a garage to the left (north) at the intersection, but the road is merely a farm path, and apparently no longer a township road, Turn left into this farm road and proceed a little over 0.1 mile where you reach a gated entry into state game lands. Park off the path at this point. Walk on the road into the game lands. At the railroad track turn left and follow the road parallel to the tracks and under the railroad and around down the hill to the creek. The furnace is about 50 feet to the right of the road and about 100 feet from the creek. Total walking distance about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 miles.
GPS Location N 40º 06.770' W079º 43.081' (rp-2003)
We also plotted a route from Dawson on the Youghiouheny River.
Starting at the junction of PA819 and Railroad Avenue in Dawson
N 40° 02.767' W079° 39.326'. Travel north on PA819 about 0.8 miles to the junction with Banning Road, SR1002. There will be an Alliance Furnace sign at the intersection.
N 40° 03.282' W079° 38.955'. Turn left onto SR1002 and continue to the crossroads with T568 (as above). This is a straight line leg of 4.82 miles but will be longer on the road. (You will see another Alliance Furnace sign prior to the crossroads).
N 40° 06.052' W079° 43.052'. Turn right onto the farm road and continue as above
A better approach may be to park in the State Gamelands parking lot, which is a little more than 0.1 mile east of the Crossroads on the north side of SR1002.
N 40° 06.069' W079° 42.914'
Follow the hunters path generally north until it merges with the road into the gamelands. Continue as above. (rp-2003).
Breakneck (aka Finley) - was built along Breakneck Creek in Bullskin Township by Miller, Rogers and Paull in 1818(S&T). It went out of blast about 1837 or 1838. A dam was built about 100 yards below the furnace and now the site is under water.
Follow SR1051 east approximately 3.2 miles from Pittsburgh Street in Connellsville, about 0.2 miles beyond the intersection with SR1019. You will see a dam on Breakneck Creek on the left. The furnace site is underwater about 100 yards above the dam. Coordinates 40º 02.483'N - 79º 32117'W. to top
Center (aka Dunbar) - Is at the intersection of Dunbar Creek and Glade Run in Dunbar Township. When built in 1815 by Isaac Meason this furnace was called Dunbar Furnace. It is now in poor condition. All of the stack except part of the base has fallen into Glade Run. The charcoal house, the wheel pit, millrace and cast house foundation are still discernable. Across glade run are quantities of slag and a large stone retaining wall. (S&T early 1960's). We plotted three routes into the furnace, and reached it in 2004 by hiking up Dunbar Creek. The routes are described in the Location page. (P)(V)(rp,ph-2004)
We provide three routes to this location.
(1) The first option, and probably the easiest, would be to go upstream along Dunbar Creek starting from the south east side. Follow SR1055 east from the bridge over Dunbar Creek in Dunbar. 39° 58.304'N - 79° 36.831'W. Proceed on SR 1055 about 3.0 miles. Here SR1055 bears left and a gravel road (T782) Betty Knox Road goes right. 39° 56.664'N - 79° 34.745'W Follow this rough road to its end in a game lands parking lot. Park here. 39° 55.909'N - 79° 35.270'W. In low water, or with proper wading equipment Dunbar Creek can be forded and the furnace approached by walking upstream. Start by walking upstream on the SE side (left bank) of Dunbar Creek. You will have an easy stepping stone crossing of Limestone Run. You will then pass a location where a road comes down from the opposite bank (no bridge) and continues on upstream. This is called 2nd crossing. Continue on this path, left bank upstream, until it comes back to the creek and you see a wide shallow crossing to a continuation on the right bank. This is 3rd crossing. Ford Dunbar Creek and continue on upstream on the NW side of the creek until you arrive at the confluence with Glade Run. This is about 1.33 straight line miles from the parking lot. Ford (now Little Dunbar Creek) one more time and you are in the V formed by Glade Run and Little Dunbar Creek. Walk up the right (southwest) bank of Glade Run no more than 100 feet and you will see the wheel pit, the furnace remains, and structures above on the hilltop, probably the charcoal house and others.
GPS coordinates 39° 54.945'N - 79° 36.136'W (P)(V)(rp 2004).
Gary Sherwin (sherwin@yukonwaltz.com) has a web site that explains in detail how to take this route up Dunbar Creek to the confluence with Glade Run. On the return trip down Dunbar Creek cross back over at 3rd Crossing, but then you can take an optional route. When the road comes back down to the stream you will be at 2nd Crossing. Cross again to the NW side and walk back until you see the parking lot across the creek at 1st Crossing. Ford again to your starting point. This option will not have the steep hillsides or extremely difficult over/under and vegetation problems affecting your journey.
(2) The second option, another proposed by Gary Sherwin(gs), is to take US40 east to just past the Summit and down to Chalk Hill. Hear you go left onto SR2010, Chalk Hill Road to the east side of Deer Lake where you turn left onto Greenbrier Road which runs along the ridge. In about two miles you turn left on Betty Knox Road into the state game lands #51. This road is gated, and was not open in July of 2004. If open you continued on this road about 2+ miles until you reach a loop road. At about N 39° 54.50' W079° 35.46' you look for an old logging road going northwest down the hill to the confluence of Dunbar Creek and Glade Run. Using this route there are no fords necessary until you reach the confluence. There will be a lot of over/under, heavy brush travel, and hills on this route. Gary Sherwin can supply the GPS coordinates for this old trail.
(3) The third option, by s&t and modified by road changes and visitation is; North from Uniontown on US119 to the exit to the intersection of Connellsville Road and Shady Grove Road. N 39° 56.020' W079° 39.873' Go east on Shady Grove Road, which becomes Surry Lane and Old Braddock Road, for 2.8 miles to a road to the left. N 39° 55.402' W079° 37.413' Take this gravel road to the left for about 0.3 to 0.4 mile to where the road deteriorates and a small parking area is observed to the left. Park here. N 39° 55.331' W079° 37.085' Walk the road about another 200 feet and look for a faint lane to the right. N 39° 55.315' W079° 37.050' (V) (P)(rrp 2003). This lane is posted no trespassing and has a barbed wire fence. It is 0.91 miles SE of the furnace location so we are fairlycertain this is the lane described by s&t in the 60's that leads down to Dunbar Creek, although we did not enter in 2003. If you followed the lane down the hill until you see Little Dunbar Creek you should be upstream of the junction of Glade Run at this point, so parallel the creek to the junction. The furnace should be to the right across Little Dunbar Creek in the V with Glade Run. This route could be rigorous due to the steepness of the hillside and probable heavy obstructions.
We have completed only the first option shown above, traveling up Dunbar Creek. to top
Coolspring - Constructed about 1820, or perhaps earlier, by Thomas McKean, Coolspring is along Coolspring Run in North Union Township. About 1855 F.H. Oliphant bought it and it operated until 1860 when water supply became uncertain. Only a part of the inner stack and lining remain. The cut stone of the exterior was used in the reservoir dam which was built a few hundred yards below the furnace. (P)(V)(rp,ph-2004)
Go east from East Uniontown from the junction of Connellsville Road and Coolspring Road on Coolspring Road. This becomes SR2021. Follow for about 3.3 miles through Coolspring. East of the village where the road starts up the mountain a hard road goes to the right 39º 54.086'N - 79º 39.489'W. Park here. There are two ways to reach Coolspring furnace from this point.
(1) Walk upstream along the left bank of the creek keeping a high line just below the steep hillside. This is a strenuous hike (2004) due to extensive logging in the area with many fallen trees and heavy branches in the way. In about a 1/4 to 3/8 of a mile you will see the remains of the stack below the hillside and several hundred feet from the creek.
(2) Walk up the hard road which bears right to a paved storage lot with what appeared to be large asphalt piles 39º 53.973'N - 79º 39.325'W. Climb the bank to the right toward the creek, look to your left and you will see the stack about 100 yards away and slightly downhill. A good part of the inner lining is visible with portions of the inner stack about 20 feet high. A stone lined millrace and wheel pit are visible and much slag abounds.
GPS coordinates 39º 53.929'N - 79º 39.341'W. (rp-2004).
As s&t stated, the cut stone of the exterior was used in the reservoir dam which was built a few hundred yards below the furnace. We also observed this site along the first route described above. to top
Etna - Was along Trumps Run in Connellsville Township. It was built by Thomas and Joseph Gibson in 1815, and went out of blast in 1836 or 1840(s&t). The furnace site is now covered with 20 to 30 feet of fill (Sharp and Thomas).
The Etna site is ne mile from Connellsville and 1/3 mile from the Youghiogheny River at the end of Etna Street, which runs parallel to Pittsburgh Street and one block west.
Coordinates- See city maps. to top
Fairchance - Is on a branch of Georges Creek in Georges Township. It was built by John Hayden in 1803 or 1804 and sold to the Oliphant's in 1805(s&t). In 1822 John Oliphant was the listed owner, and also owned nearby Fairfield Furnace(dav). In about 1870 the borough of Fairchance began its growth due to the Fairchance Furnace Company's presence and was incorporated in 1884 through the efforts of the company and it's superintendent Robert L. Martin(smh). Fairchance Furnace was rebuilt several times and blown out in 1887. This furnace was one of the first to have preheated blast. The air for the blast passed through a pipe that was 150 feet long. When it was freezing at the tuyeres Mr. Hayden would light a fire under the blast pipe and the hot blast cleared up furnace freezing. Hayden did not follow up on his discovery and regular use of hot blast came later(s&t). It is only a pile of stones and rubble about 10' high. (P)(V)(rp,ph-2004).
From Hopwood go south on SR3027 (Hopwood-Fairchance or Mountain Road) through Fairchance to the intersection with PA857. 39º 48.742'N - 79° 45.666'W Turn right and go 200-300 feet. Just before reaching the railroad track (or rr right of way) turn right into a stone driveway . 39º 48.811'N - 79° 45.637'W. About 150 feet down this lane you will come to a house. Seek permission and proceed around the house to the back yard and to a small bridge which crosses the remains of the millrace. Walk to the right along the race to the back of the lot and you will see the pile of stones, slag and rubble about 10 feet high.
GPS Coordinates 39º 48.909'N - 79° 45.484'W (rp2004). to top
Fairfield - Is along Georges Creek in Georges Township in a section called White Rock Hollow. It was set up by John Hayden in 1792.(ps/s&t). It was bought by the Oliphant's in 1805(s&t). In 1822 John Oliphant was the listed owner, and also owned nearby Fairchance Furnace(dav). Fairfield was blown out in 1827(s&t) so did not survive to become a part of the larger Fairchance Furnace Company of later years. In 2003 only a small part of one wall is standing and a few furnace stones are scattered about. A newer gravel road paralleling the creek covers most of the site.(P)(V)(rp-1978, rp-2003, rp,ph-2004).
From the Hopwood exit off I40, Hopwood-Fairchance Road N 39° 52.340' W079° 41.966'. Going south th road becomes Mountain Road. Continue about 4.2 miles to Elm Street in Fairchance, just over a bridge over Georges Creek. N 39° 49.568' W079° 44.670' Turn left on Elm Street and go about 0.3 miles to a bridge over Georges Creek. Go over the bridge and park. N 39° 49.478' - W079° 44.311' Walk to the right across a foot bridge over the creek and the furnace ruins are to the right against the hillside.
GPS Coordinates N 39° 49.471' W079° 44.298'(rp-2003)
Only a portion of one wall is standing, and furnace stones are scattered about. A newer gravel road in front of the site covers a good portion of the site. to top
Fayette (aka Buck's Run) - - Is along Buck's Run in Springfield Township. Some discrepancies appear in the histories about this furnace. One account says it was built in 1815 by Freeman, Linton and Miller. Another account says it was built in 1827 by James Rogers and Associates. By 1832 its ownership had passed to John and George Rogers who "employed 40 to 50 hands" and "produced pigs and castings about 500 tons"(s&t/jm). This was a cold blast charcoal furnace(jm). The furnace was blown out about 1840(s&t). The stack was in good condition in the 1960's but when visited in 1981 we found the back half of the outer wall had fallen down exposing the bosh. In 2003 the furnace is still in fairly good condition.(P)(V)(rp-1978-2003)
From the junction of PA711 and PA391 in Normalville, N39º 59.956' W079º 26.886'. Go 0.2 miles south to PA653. N39º 59.728' W079º 26.779". Go east (left) on PA653 until you cross the bridge over Indian Creek. At the east end of the bridge is the junction with Pritts Road (SR1003). N39º 59.624' W079º 25.929'. Go left on Pritts Road (or T685?) one mile. When Pritts Road (SR1003) turns left and Rogers Road goes straight ahead. N39º 59.508' W079º 24.839'. continue straight ahead on Rogers Road about 0.3 miles to the creek. This is Buck's Run. Park here. N39º 59.512' W079º 24.477'. The furnace is about 100 feet to the right of the road and on the bank of the creek.
GPS Location N39º 59.515' W079º 24.400'(rp-2003) to top
Little Falls (aks Franklin Iron Works) - Is along Arnold's Run (now Furnace Run) in Perry Township. Built about 1801 by Nathaniel Gibson, the name was later changed to "Franklin Iron Works." The furnace never was successful and it is doubtful it ever made iron, although a successful forge operated and was bought by F. H. Oliphant in 1825, later sold to Miltenberger and Brown who operated it until 1839. It is said that the walls of the burned out stone mansion still existed in the 1960's(s&t). Very little currently remains at this site. (P)(V)(rp-2004).
There are probably two ways to get to this furnace area.
(1) Following s&t's 1960's directions modified. Follow PA201 west from Connellsville through Vanderbilt. About 1.1 miles west of Vanderbilt turn sharply right on SR1010 (Virgin Run Road) for 0.3 miles, and then left on SR1008 for 0.6 miles to Strickler Road to the right (may be unmarked). Follow this road to the furnace site. You can drive the road until it crosses the run and then walk the rest of the way. The road went up over a hill and down to the railroad along the river. This area has been strip mined and the s&t directions may not hold at this point. Nathaniel Gibson built this furnace and the walls of his house stood near the tracks and downstream from the furnace run. About 1/2 way from the house to the run is where the furnace probably stood. "At this place is a pile of stones and rubble"(s&t).
(2) the second way, which we utilized in 2004, is to turn right on PA819 in Vanderbilt continue down to near the Youghiogheny River and turn down to the Youghiogheny River bike trail trailhead, (marked with signs).
40º 02.726'N - 79º 39.716'W. Park here. You can either ride your bicycles down the trail or walk the trail downstream (left) 2.15 miles to the bridge over Furnace Run 40º 03.439'N - 79º 41.434'W. We searched downstream from furnace Run but found no walls and only a small bit of cut stone at
GPS coordinates 40º 03.271'N - 79º 41.499'W.(rp-2004)
Returning to the trailhead and heading upstream (east) toward Connellsville you will come upon a large number of beehive coke ovens in the hillside to the right of the trail. There are many more also along the opposite bank of the river. to top
Mary Ann (aka Fairview) - Was built about 1800 by Messrs. Martin and Lewis on a branch of Mountain Creek in Georges Township. Joseph Victor bought it in 1818 rebuilt it and changed its name to "Fairview". It went out of blast about 1840. Its capacity was 1-1/2 tons a day. In fairly poor condition with one opening and only about 10 rows of stone standing, the rest broken down and many stones missing. (P)(V)(rp-2003)
Take the Mon-Fay Expressway (PA43) south from Uniontown and exit onto PA857 prior to the toll portion. Continue south on PA857 to Haydentown. Here you will cross a bridge over Mountain Creek, and about 0.2 miles beyond the bridge turn left onto Mud Pike Road.
N 39° 47.336' W079° 46.231'
Go southeast on Mud Pike Road a little less than 0.7 miles to junction with Barton Hollow Road from the left. N 39° 47.068' W079° 45.655'
Turn left on Barton Hollow Road for about 0.12 miles to the creek. Park before crossing the bridge.
N 39° 47.135' W079° 45.552'
When S&T visited the furnace in the early 60's the ironmasters house was to the right, and a path led to the furnace.These are now gone and a newer residence is to the right of the road before crossing the creek (2003). We tried to contact residents of the house but no one was home. We walked across the side yard parallel to the creek and across an open field to a park like area where we saw the furnace to the right and against the hillside, a distance of about 0.14 miles from the road.
GPS Location N 39º 47.043' W079º 45.449' (rp-2003) to top
Mount Vernon - Isaac Meason built this furnace between 1795 and 1800 along Mounts Creek in Bullskin Township. On the iron lintel above the main opening are the letters "MT VN 1801." It is in fair condition considering its age. The front and right sides have a few stones missing, and a crack runs up the left side of the front to the top of the furnace. The back of the furnace, near the hillside, has the center stones fallen down from the top of the furnace all the way to the base. Although the furnace is in a park like setting its maintenance appears to be minimal, and much trash is present (2003). It was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1991. In 2004 Jesse and Bertha M. Eutsey, hiers to the furnace site deeded the 1.6 acre plot to the Bullskin Township Historical Society, which has plans to restore the furnace(ths). (P)(V)(rp-2003). (P)(V)(rp-2003).
Follow PA982 to Wooddale and then turn east on SR1044, Ore Mine Hill Road. N 40° 05.718' W079° 31.294'. Go 0.8 miles. Turn left on dirt road T819, Eutsey Road.
N 40° 05.563' W079° 30.423'. Proceed on Eutsey Road about 0.3 miles.The furnace is in a field to the left.
GPS Location N 40° 05.760' W079° 30.574' (rp-Nov.2003) to top
New Laurel - Was built in 1812 about 1-1/4 miles downstream from Old Laurel Furnace along Morgan Run in Dunbar Township. (See History of Fayette County by Franklin Ellis). The second Pennsylvania Geological Survey says the plant was built by James Paull and Sons in 1827 or 1828. In 1834 it was sold to David Kaine who ran it until 1838(s&t). When we visited in 1981 and again in 2003 about 1/2 of the stack remained with the bosh and the other 1/2 fallen down.(P)(V)(rp-1978-2003)
To reach this furnace follow directions to Old Laurel Furnace ( T545 and Morgan Run) N 39° 55.873' W 79° 32.091'. Continue 1/4 mile T545 to T792. Kingan Hills Road goes to the left and Green Briar Road is the right split. N 39° 55.727' W 79° 31.851'. Follow Kingan Hills Road (T792) to the left and continue on it bearing left until you reach the State game lands parking lot. Park here. (At the far end of the parking lot you will see a foot bridge over Morgan Run). N 39° 56.506' W 79° 31.271'. Look to the right into the heavy brush and the furnace will be about 0.1 miles inside the wooded area and next to the hillside.
GPS coordinates N 39° 56.537' W 79° 31.305' (rp-2003)
In the early 1960's when the furnace was visited by Sharp & Thomas three sides of the stack were still intact. One corner was fallen down. The millrace, tailrace and wheel pit were in fairly good condition. There were many piles of slag in the fields around the furnace. Across the creek and downstream you could trace the old tramroad used to haul the iron to the river. When we visited in 1981 and again in 2003, about 1/2 of the stack remained with the bosh and the other 1/2 fallen down.(P)(V))rp-2003) to top
Old Laurel - Is also along Morgan Run in Dunbar Township. It was built in 1797 on Laurel Run (now Morgan Run) by John Gibson and Samuel Paxson. It later was sold to Reuben Mochabee and Samuel Wurtz, who added Hampton Forge on Indian Creek (then called Salt Lick Creek). The forge was located ½ mile upstream from its junction with the Youghiogheny River. Much of the outer stonework had been removed probably to build New Laurel Furnace (s&t). A fair pile of furnace stones and rubble remained however. (P)(V)(rp-1981-2003-2005).
To reach this location follow SR 1055 east from the bridge over Dunbar Creek in Dunbar. N 39° 58.304' W 79° 36.831'. Go about 4-3/4 miles east on SR1055. Going uphill the road turns to the right and a road T545 (dirt in early 1960's) continues straight up the hill. N 39° 55.969' W 79° 33.252'. Follow this road a little over a mile to where it crosses Morgan Run. Cross the run and park in the hunters parking lot on the left side of the road. N 39° 55.873' W 79° 32.091'. Walk up the road about 10 feet and notice a hunters path to the left going downstream on the right side of Morgan Run. Follow this trail a little over 100 yards until it approaches Morgan Run (N 39° 55.920' W 79° 32.065'). Ford the run at this point and climb the small hill on the west bank. You will be standing above the wheel pit, with the tail race running down to the right. The furnace remains are an obscure pile of stones and rubble on the far side of the wheel pit.
GPS coordinates N 39° 55.930' W 79° 32.074' about 20 feet from the remains. (rp-2005) to top
Old Valley - Old Valley Furnace is actually just south of Fayette County in Preston County, West Virginia on Patterson Run, but it is so close and such a well preserved furnace that we include it here in the Fayette County list. According to a report provided by Dave Barnett, and from Lee Maddex at the Institute for the History of Technology and Industrial Archaeology, Andrew Ochiltree and James Caldwell erected the Old Valley Furnace in 1837. Located on Patterson Run, a tributary of Laurel Run, the Old Valley furnace was an independent operation, apparently not related to Jackson's, and was in blast for only a year or two. It was abandoned due to a lack of capital, most likely due to the Panic of 1837.i 1 Wiley, Preston County, p. 376.(P)(V)(rp 2003). (P)(V)(rp-2001-2003).
To reach the site proceed south on PA 837 to Wymps Gap Road N 39° 45.286' W 79° 47.613'. Go east and south on Wymps Gap Road through Wymp's Gap, 4.15 miles to the West Virginia border. Continue into WV another 0.65 miles and the furnace will be on the left side of the road against the hillside. It is a very well preserved furnace, with charging bench, retaining wall, wheel pit and millrace. You can look up the stack from the inside.
GPS Location N 39° 42.890' W 79° 44.549' to top
Pine Grove (aka Brownfield) - Was built about 1805 along a branch of Mountain Creek in Georges Township. It was owned in 1857 by Basil Brownfield. Nothing remains.
Follow the Mon-Fay Expressway (PA43) south from its junction with US119 in South Uniontown about 7.2 miles (or about 0.4 miles beyond a bridge over Mountain Creek. Turn left at this point (T518?) and proceed 1 mile to a fork in the road. Bear left at the fork (T518) and follow this road about 3/4 mile. The furnace site is to the left of the road about 150 feet before crossing the creek mentioned above. This area may have been strip mined and directions may not hold. Coordinates 39º 45.833'N - 79º 45.317'W.
Redstone (aka Huston) - Was constructed about 1797 along Lick Run, a branch of Redstone Creek in Uniontown Township. It was in operation fairly steadily until 1870. Joseph Huston was an early owner followed by his nephew Judge John Huston, then John Snyder. The Huston home still stood across the road from the furnace site The land was stripped about 1940 and nothing remains except slag along the road and through the field(s&t).
Go east on US40 from Uniontown to Hopwood. Turn south on on SR3027, Hopwood-Fairchance Road about 0.4 mile. Turn right (west) on Redstone Furnace Road about 0.4 mile. A street (Furnace Road) comes in from the right, and John Huston's red brick house was (1965) on the left, opposite the end of this street. The furnace stood near the creek in a field to the north of the intersection and back of the houses along the creek. We did not visit this site.Approximate coordinates 39º 52.589'N - 79º 42.442'W. to top
St. John's - Is below the falls along Indian Creek in Springfield Township. It was built between 1810 and 1815 by Jackson and Gibson. It went out of blast in 1828. It is in poor condition, about 15 feet of stone, with a portion of one corner remaining and the rest of the stones fallen down. The wheel pit and the millrace are visible, and slag is present. (P)(V)(rp-2003, vc/jh-2006))
Start at the junction of PA711 and PA 381 in Normalville. Go west on PA711 a little over 0.1 mile and turn left on a dirt road (T836). This road is marked School House Road on the right but may be called Hollow Road on the left. N 39° 59.952' W079° 26.984'. Follow this lane down hill. About 1.3 miles down this road you will note two mobile homes, one to the left and one to the right. Also just before these homes you will see a (red) fire hydrant on the right side of the road. A faint unmarked road is to the left. Park near here on a tiny dirt patch at . N 39° 59.107' W079° 27.736'
Walk to the trailhead a tiny dirt path at N 39° 59.074' W079° 27.805'. The road is marked no trespassing, and there are many barking dogs chained near the mobile home on the left. The owner of the home and dogs said we would not have a problem using this road, so we proceeded to walk down hill on this road about 3/8 of a mile to where the road splits right and left at a small clearing. Taking the left path we proceeded generally down hill toward the creek, listening for the small waterfall at the creek. Near the creek and waterfall we climbed down and over the mill race, looked to the right and the furnace was no more that 100 feet away against the hillside. Total walking distance about 1/2 to ¾ mile. Due to heavy tree cover our GPS receiver did not pick up the location of the furnace, but our Go To had us within 119' of the furnace. The GPS location of the furnace and directions were clarified in the fall of 2006 by Vince Ciaramella and John Henke.
GPS Location N 39° 58.824' W079° 27.632' (rp-2003, vc-jh-2006))
A warning! Back to our car, we met the man who helped us identify this route, and he showed us infra red photos of a mamma bear three cubs and a daddy bear in the area we walked. to top
Springhill - Was actually a series of four furnaces built on the same site along Rubles Run in Springfield Township in 1794, 1805, 1830 and 1854 by Robert and Benjamin Jones. The original furnace was 35' high, had a 9' bosh and produced 2-1/2 tons per day. In 1803 Purchased by the Oliphant's in 1833, (or 1803?) it was blown out in 1870. To the Oliphants and to Springfield Furnace in 1803 belong the credit for making the first coke iron in the United States. Due to the cheapness of charcoal the owners did not continue to use coke until two years later when the furnace was rebuilt. The stone from the furnaces was used in the railroad tunnel at Outcrop A limestone crushing Plant now exists on the old furnace site. Slag is evident round about. The large stone house on the hill to the north of the creek was the iron masters house and was in use in the 1960's (s&t). In 2005 the road to the house was overgrown and we assume the mansion is no longer in use(rp).(P)(V)(rp-2005).
Follow PA857 directly south from Fairchance approximately 6.5 miles to Springhill. SR3002 comes in from the left and just beyond look for the Springhill Furnace Presbyterian Church on the right. Just beyond is Rubles Run. Cross the bridge and turn left to the gated area before the limestone crushing plant property and a sign "Lake Lynn Laboratory" and "Laurel Run Aggregates".(39º 43.885'N - 79º 48.254'W). Walk about 0.16 miles to the crushing plant. The furnaces were on the location of the plant, next to the hill. There is slag in the creek between the plant and the highway.
GPS coordinates 39º 43.874'N - 79º 48.070'W to top
Union #1 and #2 (aka Dunbar) - Two furnaces near eachother on Dunbar Creek in Dunbar Township apparently also known as Dunbar Furnace(s). Union #1 was built in 1791 by Isaac Meason on Dunbar Creek , 4 miles south of Connellsville(s&t). According to a chart in the booklet "Dunbar ---The Furnace Town-page 27" this first furnace, Union #1, was a very small furnace estimated to be 12' high with a 3.5' bosh and producing only ¾ ton per day, however it was said to be a financial success, probably due to the very good quality of the Dunbar iron which was in great demand. It was the second furnace built west of the Allegheny Mountains, but the first one, Alliance, was not profitable(dcm). In 1793 it was replaced by a larger furnace, Union #2, (later called Dunbar #1) built downstream from the first site and on the south side of Dunbar Creek(s&t). This was a "modern tall blast furnace", 32' high with a 9' bosh and producing from 1.5 to 4 tons per day. The Dunbar complex continued to expand for many years changing names, Union Iron Works about 1800, Youghiogheny Iron & Coal about 1860, Dunbar Iron Company 1869, Dunbar Furnace Co. 1876. Isaac Meason built two other early furnaces in Fayette County, Mt. Vernon and Center. After Isaac Meason died in 1818, the ownership of Union Iron Works passed to his son Isaac Meason Jr. and then in 1843 to a series of different owners and operators. During the ensuing years the stack(s) were rebuilt and enlarged repeatedly. There may have been as many as four other stone furnaces at the expanding "Dunbar" complex on the south side of Dunbar Creek at Dunbar. Dunbar #2 35' high with 9' bosh, and three others including Dunbar #5 with a height of 49' and a 12.5' bosh. This last furnace built in 1869, collapsed and was raised, and thereafter the newer furnaces had iron stacks. (#6 through #10). The last owner was the American Manganese Mfg.(1914-24)(dcm). The Dunbar works lasted until 1930 when the depression closed it permanently(s&t). (P)(V)(rp,ph-2003, rp-2004). (P)(V)(rp,ph-2003, rp-2004)
To reach the site of the Union furnaces, take US119 south from Connellsville to the junction with Furnace Hill Road N 39° 59.043' W 79° 37.836' Go left on Furnace Hill Road to Dunbar and the bridge over Dunbar Creek on SR1055 N 39° 58.304' W 79° 36.831'. Go east on SR 1055 0.6 mile to where SR1055 makes a left bend and an old road leads right toward an abandoned bridge N 39° 58.152' W 79° 36.229. At this point the old log houses that s&t spoke about as being to the right are now replaced by newer homes, and the old bridge across the creek is now only a steel framework with no top surface. In the fall of 2003 we saw a pile of cut stone that looked like furnace stone in the middle of the old road to the bridge, but they were not there in 2004 having been utilized for landscaping projects in nearly homes. Looking down stream we did see the foundation of the plant that was built on the site of Union #2 furnace.
To reach the site of Union #1 go to the second house on the right beyond this old road. Ask for Gary or Mary Garletts, the present owners and seek permission to view the ruins which are in back of the house and down the hillside near the creek. There is another way to get to the site by going east from the Garlett's home, upstream and parallel to the creek, and by working your way down to creekside on a more gradual incline. Then following the creekside downstream you will arrive back at Union #1 site. This route is full of thick underbrush and brambles and a small clippers would be a handy tool.
GPS coordinates 39° 58.101'N - 79° 36.130'W. (rp 2004).
A nearby resident states that he is aware of someone removing stones from the area.
Although there may have been more stone furnaces in the Dunbar Iron Works Complex we discuss only Union #1 and #2. This suggests there may be more research required. to top
Wharton - A well preserved furnace in a small park on Cheney (Chaney) Run in Wharton Township, built in 1839 and operated sporadically until 1873. Made, among other things, cannonballs for the Union Army during the Civil War. During the summer of 1962 the furnace was repaired and the area cleared for use as a small park. The stack is to be kept as a memorial to the iron industry which played an important part in Fayette County history(s&t). The stack is in excellent condition and the wheel pit and millrace are evident. (P)(V)(rp-2003).
Go about six miles east from Uniontown on US40 to the Summit resort on the right. Continue about 0.6 miles beyond the summit and angle up to the right on Wharton Furnace Road. N 39° 50.840' W079° 38.699'. Go on Wharton Furnace Road about 1.9 miles and look for the furnace in a small park on the right side of the road. You can drive in and park near the furnace.
GPS Location N 39° 49.545' W079° 38.275' (rp-2003)
There are some great ruins of the wheel pit and millrace visible.
COUNTY Fayette County Special Sources:
Gary Sherwin(gs) sherwin.ws/Dunbar_Creek_Project/
Donald C. Morrison(dcm) Dunbar 1883inc~1983 The Furnace Town, The Dunbar Borough Council - The Centennial Book Committee 1983, Author p1 through 41
home.att.net/~rrbritt/SmithfieldHistory.htm (smh)
members.aol.com/lunetta595/Records/AddCorr/gdavisd1.htm (dav)
Joyce Koballa (ths) The Herald Standard, article 04/27/04.
Samuel T. Wiley (hpc) History of Preston County, West Virginia 1887, pg376
Vince Ciaramella - St.John's Furnace directions & GPS
John Henke - St.John's Furnace directions & GPS

Your source for Western Pennsylvania Iron Furnace Information

Iron Furnace Home Furnace Index Back to Top

Contact us with comments and suggestions e-mail

Click a furnace link below to read about the furnace and where to find it
Alliance Breakneck Brownfield Buck's Run Center	Coolspring Dunbar Etna Fairchance Fairfield	Fairview Fayette Finley Huston Jacob's Cr.	Little Falls Mary Ann Mount Vernon New Laurel Old Laurel	Old Valley(WV) Pine Grove Redstone St. John's Springhill	Union #1 Union #2 Wharton

(WARNING: The information included below is not being maintained on this site. To insure the latest intended information is displayed click one of the three links below and you will be on our new web site)
Furnace Home	Furnace Index	Home

Iron Furnace Home	Furnace Index	Back to Top
Contact us with comments and suggestions		e-mail