A large pile of stones and ground has fallen down filling the arch on that side. The inside of the furnace is well preserved and is an excellent specimen of old masonery. Against the hill-side above the furnace are the ruins of the charcoal house. The lower wall, a solid piece of masonry 60 feet long, 18 feet high, and 3 fact thick is well preserved throughout. The end wall walls are falling down. The wall at the upper end is formed by the solid rock, an out-cropping of the Mahoning Sandstone. Three large Butter-nut trees are now growing inside the charcoal house, also many small trees and shrubs. The charcoal was hauled above and dumped over the rock into the house. When full, the building would hold about 20,00 bushels. A trestle was erected from the charcoal house to the top of the furnace. By means Of this gangway, the ore, fuel and limestone were wheeled to the top of the furnace and dumped in.
In John Burrough's excellent book, "Leaf and Tendril" he gives a remarkable description of a little birch tree that grew out of a crevice, in the side of a rock, 4 feet from the ground. It threw out a rootlet, which crept down the side of the rock until it reached the ground. The root then developed into the trunk of the tree. Against the old charcoal house we have a similar case. About 8 feet from the ground a little birch tree began to grow. It threw out a root which crept down the face of the wall until it reached the ground, and is gradually becoming a part of the trunk. This Birch Tree is now about 6 inches in diameter and its position is unique. A little farther along the wall and about 6 feet from the ground is a small tree of the hop hornbeam. It is nearly 4 inches in diameter but has no roots creeping down the wall. A short distance up the creek, a race was dug which ran past the furnace. This without doubt was used to turn the wheel to run the blast. Large trees are now growing in the race.
Near the iron works a bridge spanned the creek. The ruins of the abutments are still visible. About a quarter of a mile farther up the stream on the Westmoreland county side are the ruins of the forge. One can see the abutments of the dam and the masses of stone used in construction of the forge. The forge hammer ran several years after the furnace ceased to be operated. Perhaps this was to use up the pig iron that had already been made. A Sycamore tree nearly 3 feet in diameter now stands in the race that ran through the forge.
|
