Forest - Is on Little Hickory Run and Furnace Run in Hickory Township. When this furnace was built, the part of Forest County concerned was in Venango County; so its history is in the Venango County chronicles(s&t). A rather small furnace it was built in 1853, probably the work of William Cross. Judging from what remained of the plant it was square in front and round in back. This is the only furnace in the western counties designed this way. Enough stones survive to tell the shape and traces of the races and wheel pit can be seen. There is plenty of slag around the area, showing the furnace operated for some while(s&t). About eight or ten rows of stones remain but it is mostly fallen down (1977)(P)(V).
Follow US62 east from Oil City and north through Tionesta. About 3.5 miles north of Tionesta you will pass the County Home. About1.25 miles beyond the home is Little Hickory Run. Turn right on SR3004, Little Hickory Road, which parallels the creek. At this point there are two alternatives to find Forest Furnace.
(1) Follow SR3004 for about 1.5 miles to a dirt road to the left (Albaugh Hill Road T347).
(41º 32.728"N - 79º 23.56'W)
Turn left on this road. The road is gated with a no trespassing sign near the top of the hill. (obtain permission?). Go about ½ mile on this road or to where the road becomes difficult. Park here and proceed on foot. After about 0.25 mile the road makes a right turn, and then a U-turn to the left and runs downhill. At the bottom of this long and steep declivity the furnace is to the right and across the creek. It is actually between two creeks.
(2) This second route was taken by Hank Edenborn in April 2004. After turning right onto SR3004 proceed about 1.0 miles and park near a bridge over Little Hickory Run. (41º 33.35'N - 79º 24.027'W)
Walk along a road paralleling the creek keeping the creek on your right. You can eventually cut down to the creek and parallel it to the furnace near the junction of Furnace Run. Walking distance about 1 mile. "A rather small furnace, judging from what remains of the stack it was square in front and round at the back. This is the only furnace in the western counties designed this way. Enough stone survives to tell the shape and traces of the races and wheel pit can be seen. There is plenty of slag around" (S&T). GPS Coordinates 41º 32.838' N - 79º 23.177'W. (he-2004)
Forest County Special Sources:
Hank Edenborn (he) directions and GPS readings
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Parks
Copyright © Richard Parks, April 2008
