East Penn Furnace

In 1826, Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helfrich purchased 25 acres from Christian Snyder and Christian Bloss and built a furnace on that land that was 30 feet high and 8 feet at the bosh. The location was chosen for its proximity to the Blue Mountain for the wood it supplied for charcoal. The furnace was "blown in" or ignited in 1826. At the time, ore was brought from a mine in South Whitehall (presumably Ironton) owned by Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helfrich. (Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

After Samuel Helfrich died in 1830, his shares were purchased by Stephen Balliet. Stephen Balliet operated the furnace until 1854 when he passed. (Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

Applebach was the first superintendent. (Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

Samuel Lewis 1805-1897 was the manager of the furnace from 1828 to 1832. (Allentown Leader 1897, p. 1; Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

Benjamin Levan was the manager from 1832 to 1854 (when Stephen Balliet passed). (Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

sold to Cooper and Hewitt (owned by Peter Cooper and son-in-law Abram Hewitt) (Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898)

In 1891, this furnace, "formerly operated by the late John Balliet, in Lizard Creek, East Penn. The iron was manufactured with charcoal." (Carbon Advocate, July 25, 1891) [1]

Reference List

• The Carbon Advocate. 1891. “In a Few Words,” July 25, 1891.[2]
• The Allentown Democrat. 1898. “The Last Existing One of the Eastern Pennsylvania Charcoal Furnaces,” May 4, 1898.[3]
• The Allentown Leader. 1897. “The End Has Come. Samuel Lewis, Pioneer Iron Master, Passes Away,” July 31, 1897.[4]