Springfield Falls

by Skip Tribby

Title

Springfield Falls

Artist

Skip Tribby

Medium

Photograph

Description

This is a beautiful waterfalls that was once the site of the first Iron Furnace in Mercer County Pennsylvania and operated from 1837-1862.
♦ A large portion of the actual Springfield Furnace remains after 5 years of debris removal.

♦ Intact blacksmith's fireplace/forge used for making product and tools..

♦ Stone water wheel pit that supported a 38 foot diameter wooden wheel (second tallest in the United States). The giant wheel produced 150 horse power to drive blowing tubs (bellows), thus forcing air into the furnace to produce temperatures of 2500 degrees needed to melt iron.

♦ Very visible quarrying marks show that furnace builders quarried the giant stones from the gorge walls to build the furnace.

♦ The original Ironmaster's House is one of the few west of the Allegheny Mountains. The restored 1850's vintage home will be a Museum/Art Gallery displaying rare artifacts discovered in the archaeological dig.

♦ Mercer County played a significant (and relatively early) role in the growth of the Iron and steel industry of Western Pennsylvania. Of the fifteen 19th century Mercer County iron furnaces very little structural evidence remains. The rare archaeological discoveries being made at Springfield Furnace helps unravel an important chapter in our rugged pioneering history.

Many visitors still come to view the splendor of this site which is now the home of Bruno's Fine Jewelers; http://www.brunojewelry.com/furnace.html

Uploaded

July 4th, 2014

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Viewed 468 Times  -  Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/26/2024 at 7:51 AM

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