This is a furnace I came across today while working. I noticed a road called Eagle Furnace Road and decided that this would be a good place to check out really quick. The furnace isn't far from the road but it is a little tricky finding it. Eagle Furnace sits on a hill above Canoe Creek. The furnace itself looks like it could collapse over the hill and I'm sure it's going to sooner or later. The huge stone supports above the arches, that hold up the furnace, are all cracked or broken.
Eagle Furnace was constructed in 1846 by Curll, Kribbs and Company. According to "A Guide To The Old Stone Blast Furnaces Of Western Pennsylvania", It was a cold blast charcoal furnace with one tuyere and an 8 foot bosh. 1n 1850 Kribbs and Reynolds are listed as owning the furnace. It went out of blast in 1858 and has been sitting all alone on the hillside ever since. In 1849 the furnace produced 850 tons of iron. It's original height was 32 feet, I didn't measure it but it seemed considerably shorter than that today. I guess after 158 years of sitting on the side of a hill we're lucky to have anything. This furnace has 2 arches, both are partially collapsed.
My photos are not very detailed. They were taken with a cell phone.
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Approaching Eagle Furnace. |
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Looking at the southwest corner of the furnace. |
The arch on the north end of the furnace. The pipe running in front of it goes down to the creek and up over the hill. I'm not sure what it's for. I tripped over it when I first started looking for this furnace.
A close up of the inside of the arch. It's still holding on.
The stone that remains on the arch is incredible cut stone. Very detailed. The type you see on old bridges and retaining walls.
The other side of the arch.
The arch on the north end of the furnace. The pipe running in front of it goes down to the creek and up over the hill. I'm not sure what it's for. I tripped over it when I first started looking for this furnace.
A close up of the inside of the arch. It's still holding on.
The stone that remains on the arch is incredible cut stone. Very detailed. The type you see on old bridges and retaining walls.
The other side of the arch.
This would be the northeast corner. Between the two arched sides.
The eastern arch. Also in danger of collapsing.
A closeup of the cut stone on the eastern arch. Incredible.
Just a matter of time...
Closeup of the remaining stones on one of the corners.
It does look like the nice cut stones were hauled away at some point. These stones look like fill.
A tree growing out of the stones.
Another close up of the stones.
On the north end is the depression which looks like it could have been part of the race.
A description of the furnace taken from the 1866 Iron Manufacturer's Guide to the Furnaces, Forges and Rolling Mills of the United States.
Another shot of the north arch taken from a hunters tree stand.
This would be the northeast corner. Between the two arched sides.
The eastern arch. Also in danger of collapsing.
A closeup of the cut stone on the eastern arch. Incredible.
Just a matter of time...
Closeup of the remaining stones on one of the corners.
It does look like the nice cut stones were hauled away at some point. These stones look like fill.
A tree growing out of the stones.
Another close up of the stones.
On the north end is the depression which looks like it could have been part of the race.
A description of the furnace taken from the 1866 Iron Manufacturer's Guide to the Furnaces, Forges and Rolling Mills of the United States.
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