East Penn Furnace
History
The furnace was erected by Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) and Samuel Hellfrich in Pennsville in 1828[1]. Two years later, Stephen Balliet became the operator of the furnace[2]. Following the death of Stephen Balliet in 1854, the furnace was operated by Solomon Boyer, C.H. Nimson, and one of Stephen Balliet's own sons, John Balliet (1819-1886)[3].
The iron was manufactured with charcoal[4]. The charcoal stock house burned to the ground on Monday, June 15, 1874. The loss was quite severe [5].
In 1891 it was reported that the furnace, which was now resides in Lizard Creek, East Penn, was the oldest furnace in the Lehigh Valley[6].
Furnace Statements
In 1850 East Penn (Pennsville) Furnace was owned by Stephen Balliet and Co. The furnace utilized hematite ore. Prior to 1850, the largest tonnage produced by the furnace was 780. In 1849, 624 tons of iron were produced. The capacity for the furnace was listed as one thousand tons. In that same year, fifty-five oxen, horses and mules, and sixty-one men and boys were employed by the furnace. The furnace operated a hot blast (temperature was five hundred degrees) with one tuyere with a diameter of 2.25 inches. The bosh was seven feet and the height was thirty feet. The blast was powered by water. The furnace produced "number one" metal[7].
Notes
Reference List
- Brenckman, Fred. 1918. History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of several boroughs and townships in the county, with biographical sketches. Harrisburg, PA, J.J. Nungesser. [4]
- The Carbon Advocate. 1891. In a Few Words. July 25, 1891.[5]
- The Carbon Advocate. 1874. Local and Personal. June 20, 1874. [6]
- Convention of Iron Masters. 1850. Documents Relating to the Manufacture of Iron in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: General Committee. [7]