In 1792, General Knox, Secretary of War wrote to Major Isaac Craig, Deputy Quarter Master General and military store-keeper at Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) asking him if he did not think it possible to obtain shot for the six-pounders from Turnbull and Marmie's furnace. Soon after this Major Craig wrote to GeneralKnox; "As there are no six pound shots here, I have taken liberty to engage four hundred at Turnbull and Marmie's furnace, which is now in blast." In another letter forwarded the shot for the six-pounders, "I am sorry that you ordered those from Turnbull and Marmie. Let them send their proposals at what rates they will cast shots, shell, cannon and howitzers." We have seen it stated that the shot and shell used by General Wayne in his expedition against the Indians in 1794, were cast at this same old furnace on Jacobs Creek. Whether any cannon or howitzers were ever cast here would be difficult to tell. A few years ago, a small cannon ball was found near the furnace.
The Whiskey Insurrection occured in 1794. This must have produced considerable excitement in the vicinity of the furnace, for it was then running in full blast, and the Revenue Collector for Westmoreland County lived at Reagantown, not more than four miles away. The Collectors house was besieged and partly destroyed by the insurgents, until the government troops drove them away.
The stack of the old furnace is still visible though in ruins. It stands less than 100 feet from the sulphury waters of Jacobs Creek. The stack is nearly 25 feet square. and contains two arches which are partially destroyed. One of the arches is on the north side and the other on the west. On the south side are the ruins of a stone wall which extends toward the hill. The stack is nearly 25 feet high. The walls have been partially destroyed by the hands of vandals, The northeast corner is best preserved. With some difficulty a person can climb to the top. Some small trees and shrubs are growing there. The writer once collected 35 species of trees, shrubs and plants growing on the top of the furnace. An Elm tree 18 inches in diameter once grew directly on top of the furnace. It was cut down a few years ago. This act has probably done more to destroy the furnace than any other agent. when the tree was standing its long, tough, fibrous roots characteristic of the American Elm so penetrated the mass and by their binding qualities held the stones and ground together and kept thern from tumbling down. The tree also acted as an umbrella shielding the furnace from the dashing rain. Since the tree has been cut, the west side of the side of the stack is rapidly going to ruin.
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