BEAVER COUNTY
in Western Pennsylvania had three furnaces only one of which has existing remains. This furnace, Bassenheim, is a very interesting and easy to find site. A sign greets you at the road junction. There is a small parking area and a short path leading to the furnace ruins, which appear below you and to the right, down the hill. The ruins reveal portions of the inner stack, and a walk down to the creek will reveal much furnace slag.
Bassenheim Furnace
Bassenheim - is along Connoquenessing Creek in Franklin Township. Built in 1814 by Dr. Detmar Basse, founder of Zelienople, this furnace was sold to Daniel Beltzhoover in 1818. Its capacity was 5 tons of pigs and castings per week. It went out of blast in 1824(s&t). A high pile of stones and a portion of the inner wall remain. (P)(V)(rp-1978, rp,ph-2004, rp2005).
Go west and northwest on PA288 from Zelienople to the junction of PA288 and PA588. 40º 47.653''N - 80º 09.203'W Take PA288 about 1-1/2 miles northwest to Old Furnace Road (SR1009) on the left. Turn onto Old Furnace Road and park on the right (40º 48.690''N - 80º 10.011'W). Notice the Bassenheim Furnace sign at the parking area. Walk across the road and take a dirt path into the woods about one block to the furnace ruins on the right about 20 feet down the hillside. GPS coordinates 40º 48.651''N - 80º 10.013'W (P)(V)(rp 2004, 2005). to top
Beaver Falls (aka Brighton, Breighton) - Was near the "Middle Falls" on the Beaver River in Beaver Falls. It was built in 1808 by Hoopes, Townsend and Company. In 1812 Frederick Rapp of the Harmony Society at Economy was supposed to have tried to purchase the property for $32,000 but was unsuccessful. Dr. Lawrence Thurman, Curator at Old Economy, says he never has found anything in the records of the Harmony Society to verify this statement. In 1826 the furnace was blown out(s&t). No trace remains.
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Beaver Falls Furnace was on the north side of Walnut Run where it enters the Beaver River in Beaver Falls, Brighton Township. See Beaver Falls map for location. to top