Lehigh Furnace: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
In 1826, [[Stephen Balliet]] and | In 1826, [[Stephen Balliet (1781-1854)]] 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<ref>Convention of Iron Masters 1850</ref>. At the time, ore was brought from a mine in South Whitehall (presumably [[Ironton]]) owned by Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helfrich<ref>Allentown Democrat 1898</ref>. | ||
After Samuel Helfrich died in 1830, his shares were purchased by Stephen Balliet. Stephen Balliet operated the furnace until 1854 when he passed<ref>Allentown Democrat 1898</ref>. | After Samuel Helfrich died in 1830, his shares were purchased by Stephen Balliet. Stephen Balliet operated the furnace until 1854 when he passed<ref>Allentown Democrat 1898</ref>. | ||
Revision as of 15:23, 9 April 2020
History
In 1826, Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) 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[1]. At the time, ore was brought from a mine in South Whitehall (presumably Ironton) owned by Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helfrich[2].
After Samuel Helfrich died in 1830, his shares were purchased by Stephen Balliet. Stephen Balliet operated the furnace until 1854 when he passed[3].
Applebach was the first superintendent[4].
Samuel Lewis 1805-1897 was the manager of the furnace from 1828 to 1832[5] [6].
Benjamin Levan (1806-1886) was the manager from 1832 to 1854 (when Stephen Balliet passed[7].
Levi Haas was a bookkeeper for the company[8][1].
Eventually, the furnace was sold to Cooper and Hewitt, owned by Peter Cooper and his son-in-law Abram Hewitt[9].
In 1850, Lehigh Furnace was owned by "S. Balliet and Co." The furnace utilized hematite ore. Prior to 1850, the largest tonnage produced by the furnace was 1430 and in 1849, 1204 tons of iron were produced; capacity is listed as 1200 tons. In that same year, 90 men and boys were employed by the furnace and 60 "oxen, horses and mules" were employed by the furnace. The furnace operated a hot blast (whose temperature was 500 degrees) with one tuyere with a diameter of 2.75 inches. The bosh was 7.5 and the height was 31 feet. The blast was powered by water. They produced "number one" metal[10].
Notes
- ↑ Convention of Iron Masters 1850
- ↑ Allentown Democrat 1898
- ↑ Allentown Democrat 1898
- ↑ Allentown Democrat 1898
- ↑ Allentown Leader 1897, 1
- ↑ Allentown Democrat 1898
- ↑ Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898
- ↑ Allentown Democrat October 11, 1899
- ↑ Allentown Democrat, May 4, 1898
- ↑ Convention of Iron Masters 1850
Reference List
- The Allentown Democrat. 1898. The Last Existing One of the Eastern Pennsylvania Charcoal Furnaces, May 4, 1898.[2]
- The Allentown Leader. 1897. The End Has Come. Samuel Lewis, Pioneer Iron Master, Passes Away, July 31, 1897.[3]
- The Allentown Democrat. 1899. Met with a Fatal Fall, October 11, 1899. [4]
- Convention of Iron Masters. 1850. Documents Relating to the Manufacture of Iron in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: General Committee. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000958393.