Welcome to Mercer County Old Stone Furnaces

Click a furnace link below to read about the furnace and where to find it
Annadale
Big Bend
Blanche
Clay
Esther 		Greenville
Hamburg
Harry of the West
Hope 		Iron City
Mazeppa
Mineral Ridge
Oregon 		Reed
Sandy
Seth and Hill
Sharon 		Sharpsville
Springfield
Temperance
West Middlesex
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MERCER COUNTY

in Northwestern PENNSYLVANIA had fifteen Old Iron Furnaces of which we have found and photographed seven. Nothing remains of the other eight furnaces. Most of the old furnaces in Mercer County are in very poor condition, however there are some nice visits. Springfield is by a beautiful waterfall. Iron City is right off the road and worth a visit since it took mounds of research and searching to find it.

 > Clay Furnace
Clay Furnace

Big Bend - Is on the Shenango River in Jefferson Township. John King and James McFarland built this furnace in 1846. It was abandoned after only a few years of operation(s&t) It was a relatively small furnace with a 7.5' bosh and may have used raw coal for fuel. Probably used Lake Superior ore(jp). The road to the furnace SR3022 has been relocated over the top of Big Bend furnace since viewed by Sharp and Thomas in the 60's when it was just a pile of rubble. The stones of the road bank in the area where the furnace stood look very much like furnace stones when viewed in 1977, and may be all that remains. (P)(V)(rp-1977).
Follow PA258 northwest from the square in Mercer 5.75 miles to a road T584, North Bend Road, to the right. Follow this road 0.75 miles to its end on SR3022. Turn left on SR3022 about 100 feet. This road has been relocated since the early 60's and is now over the top of Big Bend Furnace. The stones along the road embankment at this point look suspiciously like furnace stones, and may well be all that remains. (1980). Coordinates 41º 17.03'N - 80º 19.02'W. to top
Blanche (aka Sharpsville) - Was on a canal of Pymatuming Reservoir in Hickory Township. This furnace was built in 1846. Joseph and John McClure and Vincent and Himrod were the builders. It was rebuilt in 1870 to use coke and imported ore (Lake Superior ore[jp]). It was replaced in 1882 with a modern type stack and accessories. Nothing remains of the site. Subsequent building has erased all traces of it(s&t).
To reach this furnace site go to Sharpsville and follow High Street east. About 700 feet after passing Prospect Street on the right, a street goes to the left. The old stack stood about 300 feet west of this street and about 125 feet from the old canal. Coordinates 41º 16.05'N - 80º 28.79'W, to top
Clay is on Margargee Run in Jefferson Township. Vincent and Himrod built this furnace in 1845. It was a charcoal furnace at first but the short supply of charcoal caused a change to coke. However coke from local coal was disappointing so splint coal was used(jp/s&t). This coal was a semi-cannel, slatey type of block coal, free from sulphur(jp). This was the first time raw coal was used successfully in a blast furnace. In 1853 Lake Superior ore was used in Clay Furnace and in the Blanche (Sharpsville) Furnace, and that was the beginning of the end for charcoal furnaces and local ore(s&t/jp). Clay furnace was 37' high, with 8.5' bosh and 3 tuyeres. It was abandoned in 1860(jp). Only a few piles of furnace stone indicated the site of the furnace in 1978. Ian Straffin visited this site in 2005, confirmed the location, and found a pile of rubble, a few pieces of the inner stack, and a depression in the ground downhill from the furnace.(P)(V)(rp-1977, is-2005).
Drive west from Mercer on US62 for 8 miles to an historical marker on the right side of the road. Turn north on T496, Clay Furnace Road 2.2 miles. The furnace ruins are against the hillside in an apple orchard to the right. A road (T547?) starts opposite the furnace and goes west.
GPS coordinates 41º 16.090'N - 80º 23.061'W.(is-2005) to top
Esther (aka Hope) - Was on the west side of the Shenango River, in a ravine, north of the point formed by the "Y" with the Little Shenango River, in Greenville, West Salem Township. It was built in 1846 by Power, Waugh and Reed. No trace remains but slag is visible across the Shenango River in the "Y" formed by the junction with the Little Shenango. This slag was from Esther and also Greenville Furnace which was close by(s&t).
Go to Greenville and follow PA 358 west across the river. At the west end of the bridge, turn north. Just above the dam in the river and opposite the point between the two rivers a ravine runs back from the river. The furnace was in the far end of this ravine.
Very Approximate Coordinates 41º 24.6'N - 80º 23.669'W.
Greenville - was set in a ravine 400 feet north of Esther Furnace. in the "Y" formed by the Shenango and Little Shenango Rivers. Himrod and Woodworth sponsored this furnace in 1846. It went out of blast in 1851. There is nothing left of this furnace except the slag dump mentioned in conjunction with Esther Furnace(s&t). Coordinates 41º 24.6'N - 80º 23.6'W.
Very Approximate Coordinates 41º 24.8'N - 80º 23.698'W.23.6'W. to top
Hamburg was on a run off the Shenango River in Delaware Township. was built by Mills and Lowry in 1846(s&t). Accourding to s&t In the 1960's a house stood on the site of the furnace with part of the house foundation being part of the furnace foundation. However, when we visited the site in 2004 the house is gone and nothing remains.
Follow PA58 north 7.2 miles from Mercer Square to SR4024 Baker Hill Road. Turn left and proceed about 2.5 miles to New Hamburg village. Turn right then left, and then left again. Follow this road across the river and, according to s&t turn left at the end of the bridge (T544? unmarked?). Go south for about 1/4 mile. Cross the bridge over the small stream. You may see a house on the right. This house stood on the site of Hamburg Furnace(s&t).
When we visited this site in Oct. 2004 we turned left after crossing the new highway bridge and went well over the 1/4 mile described by s&t. There was no small stream or house on the right that could have been the site of the furnace. However, we had found what appeared to be an old road bearing left from the current highway before the bridge crossing the Shenango. Returning to the old abandoned road that veered left we walked across an abandoned bridge over a small tributary, found that the old road was abandoned before crossing the Shenango, and the bridge was gone. We walked parallel to the tributary on a faint path for about 1/2 mile but found no evidence of a house or a hill near which the furnace was to have stood. This entire area has apparently changed since the 60's. Since there was no evidence of Hamburg in the 60's, other than the house foundation, and the house appears to have disappeared, we stopped our search.
The coordinates would have been approximately 41º 19.13'N - 80º 20.385'W. to top
Harry of the West (aka Temperance) - is on a run off Little Shenago River in Perry Township. J. G. Butler and William McKinley, father of the President, built this furnace in 1838. They sold it in 1845; and it was sold at sheriff's sale in 1855 and never operated again. Called Temperance Furnace at first in compliment to Butler's wife, it was changed to Harry of the West in tribute to Henry Clay as a promoter of high tariffs and therefore a friend of ironmasters. In 1942, a two ton block of cast iron, either a salamander or the results of a break out, was dug out of the slag pile and sold for scrap iron(s&t). Only a large pile of rubble and slag remain. (P)(V)(rp-1977, km-2005).
Go east from Greenville on PA358. On the edge of town go through an underpass of the old Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. 5-1/4 miles east of this underpass, turn south on Hughey Road (T640?). After 1-1/2 miles this road ends in another road, Lynn-Tyro Road (T765?). Turn left and go about 1/4 mile to the intersection of Furnace Road (T664?) to the right. This is Furnace Corners. Turn right on Furnace Road. About 200 feet down this road you will see the remains of the furnace in a field to the right(rp-1977). (km) visited this site in 2005 and recorded the location of furnace stones and slag near a large tree. About 200 yards to the left is an Amish farmhouse.
GPS coordinates 41º 23.472'N - 80º 15.629'W. (km-2005) to top
Iron City - is on Little Neshannock Creek in East Lackawannock Township. This furnace was built by William W. Wallace of Pittsburgh in 1846. It was a cold blast, steam powered charcoal furnace. In 1865 when it went out of blast it was owned by Wallace and Todd(s&t), Another account has the furnace built in 1838 and operated until 1856 as the last iron works in the township(rzw). The 15 foot high remains are collapsed but several rows of stone and at least one opening are are still visible. The interior brick lining shows at the top of the pile indicating a quite large bosh of possibly 10'. (P)(V)(is-rp-2005).
The directions given by Sharp and Thomas in their 1960's book drew a blank since there was no creek, hill, or furnace at that location. Information in an article by(rzw), and an 1860 map of East Lackawannock Township(elw), both obtained from Chris, Office Manager of the Mercer County Historical Society, led us to the approximate coordinates for Iron City Furnace. Ian Straffin(is) then located the site and confirmed the location. Two routes are offered.
(1). Go west from Mercer on PA62 about 1.4 miles to the junction with Bestwick Road to the left. 41º 13.558'N - 80º 15.935'W. Follow Bestwick Road west and southwest for about another 2.4 miles to the junction with PA318 coming in from the left 41º 12.801'N - 80º 18.736'W. Continue west on PA318 about another ¼ mile to Flat Road. 41º 12.705'N - 80º 19.013'W Turn right (north) on Flat Road, proceed about 1/8 mile and park at 41º 12.781'. Climb over the small bank on the west side of Flat Road and the furnace will be about 40 feet below you.
(2) Go west from Mercer on PA318 about 4.9 miles to Flat Road and procede as above
GPS Coordinates 41º 12.781'N - 80º 19.026'W. (is,rp-2005).
Mazeppa - Was on a branch of Lackawannock Creek in Findley Township. Erected by Garrett, McGaw and Company about1852, Mazeppa went out of blast in 1859. Ore was dug from open pits nearby. During the First World War ore again was mined here and shipped to Pittsburgh furnaces(s&t). No trace of the furnace remains.
Drive east on PA58 from Jct with US19 in Mercer 2-1/4 miles. Turn right on Pew Road (T431?) about 1/2 mile. Where the road veers slightly right stop. Go through a gate on the left. Walk straight ahead through the field to the creek. The furnace was on the far bank of the creek close to the hill. You can easily discover the site by reason of the difference in the vegetation on the location of the stack. Slag covers the field. Coordinates 41º 12.39'N - 80º 12.75'W. to top
Mineral Ridge - Is on a run off Little Shenango River in Perry Township. The site of Mineral Ridge Furnace is on the property line between the farms of Ed Harnett, 1001 Fredonia Road, and his brother Jim Harnett, 1021 Fredonia Road south of Hadley, Perry Township(km/rp). According to Pauline Harnett, Ed's wife, Ed stated that he heard the furnace plant needed a water pump but could not afford it and shut the plant down. There was an incline on Ed's property where the mine cars would go up and down the hill to the ore mine, which went underground somewhere up the hill. Ed and Rick Andrews (km's cousin) graded the site several years ago. Jim hauled a lot of the stone and slag up for the base of his driveway. There is not much left to see except black and green stones (obviously slag)(Pauline Harnett from km) When we visited in 1977 there was only a small group of stones and much slag remaining. (P)(V)(rp-1977).
Go west from US19 on PA358 about 1-1/2 miles. Turn left on SR1001 Fredonia Road. and look for residences at 1001 or 1021 Fredonia Road. Seek permission to study the site(rp-2004). The furnace remains were near the property line between 1001 and 1021 Fredonia Road, where the ground drops off to a flat area near the creek. There is much green and blue-black slag present. Most of the stones have been graded over. The ramp leading to the mine on the hill can be identified(rp).
Approximate coordinates 41º 24.51'N - 80º 14.35'W. to top
Oregon (aka Obeson) - Was on Lackawannock Creek in East Lackawannock Township. The 1873 map of East Lackawannock Township shows a furnace named "Obeson Furnace" in the same location as Oregon(elw). We assume these are one and the same(rp). Built in 1845 by Alexander Hutchinson and Company, it made little or no iron after 1847. A steam, cold blast charcoal furnace, it was owned for while by W. W. Wallace of the Iron City Furnace. At the time it was blown out it was owned by Lyons, Mix and Company(s&t). Nothing remains of the stack but we found the depression in the ground where the furnace was as described by Sharp and Thomas. (P)(V)(rp-1977).
Go west from the square in Mercer on US62 for 2.2 miles. At the west end of the bridge over Lackawannock Creek, turn sharply left on T496. About 0.1 mile ahead you will see a swampy spot on the right side of the road. Beyond this small swamp was the furnace location. It is in heavy undergrowth and rather difficult to find although only 20 or 30 feet from the road. Nothing remains of the plant but a depression in the ground. Coordinates 41º 13.77'N - 80º 16.95'W. to top
Reed (aka Annadale, Sandy) - was on Sandy Creek in Sandy Lake Township. Built in 1843 by Charles M. Reed of Erie, this furnace was out of blast by 1849. The furnace probably was also known as Sandy Furnace. There is nothing left of the furnace but the site has other interesting artifacts to observe, including the stone lined mill race, a mill pond, charcoal slag, a cut stone millhouse basement, and other cut stone building foundations. It is worth a visit (km-2005).
Drive east from Sandy Lake about 3.5 miles on PA62 to its junction with Reeds Furnace Road 41º 20.880'N - 80º 01.036'W. Turn right and proceed to where the road becomes dirt and probably imasssable except with a 4WD vehicle. Continue down to near Sandy Creek. Total distance from PA62 is about 1.3 miles(km). When Karl Mouck(km) visited this site in June of 2005 he verified that the old s&t directions are no longer valid since the bridge across Sandy Creek at this point has been gone for many years. The old s&t directions from this point were to walk west, parallel to the creek and old millrace. Stay north of the millrace. At the dam go right to the bank and locate the old building foundation. Just west of the foundation is a depression in the ground, thought to be the furnace site. Karl believes this to be a mill pond, and believes the furnace site was a bit south of here, nearer to the millrace and slag deposits. It is very difficult to determine the exact location of the furnace. We will use the estimated spot from Karl's GPS reading.
GPS coordinates 41º 20.128'N - 80º 0.365'W. (km-2005) to top
Sharon - was in Sharon in Hickory Township. It was built in 1846 by Shoenberger, Agnew and Company. Dr. Shoenberger was the sole owner in 1852, and after his death the furnace became the property of Boyce, Rawl and Company. In 1882 the furnace was rebuilt and adapted to the use of coke. It was operating in 1889 and was shut down sometime later(s&t). No trace of this furnace remains. No trace of this furnace remains.
In Sharon, drive north on PA518 1-1/4 miles from its intersection with US62. Here the road turns east. About 1/4 mile farther on the road turns north again. About 1/4 mile past this turn you may see a limestone plant on the right. The furnace stood about in the center of the company's yard. Nothing remains. We did not visit this area so are not sure if the limestone plant is still there.
Coordinates 41º 15.18'N - 80º 29.70'W. to top
Springfield (aka Seth and Hill) - Is located at the foot of Springfield Falls on Wolf Creek in Springfield Township. The falls are beautiful and many furnace stones are scattered about. This furnace was built in 1837 or earlier by Seth and Hill. It was managed by a Mr. Sennett for some time. William S. Schollard took over as manager in 1846. The furnace went out of blast in 1862. An unusual feature of Springfield Furnace was its 38' diameter water wheel. This was much larger than most wheels and was possible because of the location of the furnace at the foot of Springfield Falls(s&t). (P)(V)(rp-1977).
Proceed north on US19 through Leesburg to its intersection with Leesburg Road (SR2002-left) and Falls Road (right) at the northern edge of town. Turn right on Falls Road and go about 100 yards to where a hard road bears right. Do not go right but continue straight ahead on Falls Road (T535?). About 150 feet farther along this road crosses Wolf Creek. Springfield Falls is to the left and only a few yards distant. Park and walk down to the top of the falls. Look down over the falls and you will see the outline of the furnace, partly in the stream and near the left bank. Part of the wheel pit and mill race may be seen. Also large cut stones and slag. GPS coordinates 41º 8.661'N - 80º 13.076'W.(km-2005) to top
West Middlesex - was a steam powered hot blast furnace using raw coal as fuel. It was located in a ravine in West Middlesex, Shenango Township. West Middlesex was built in 1845 by Sennett, Clark and Company, and operated intermittently until about 1875 when it was torn down. Nothing remains except slag(s&t). Nothing remains.
The site may be reached from West Middlesex, which is at the intersection of PA18 and PA318 in southwest Mercer County. Drive west on PA318 and cross the bridge over the river. Turn sharply left at the first intersection and go back to the river at the foot of the bridge. Turn right along the river road. The furnace site is in the first ravine running back into the hill. Only slag remains. Coordinates 41º 10.2'N - 80º 27.5'W.
Mercer County Special Sources:
East Lackawannock Twp. by Ruth Z. Woods(rzw) on Behalf of Mercer Co. Historical. Soc.
www.rootsweb.com/~pamercer/PA/PL/Maps/1873/elackawann.jpg --(elw)(courtesy Chris, Mercer County Historical Society).
Karl Mouck (km)


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