Once a furnace was lit, the blast would run continously, producing as much as 20 to 25 tons of pig iron a week. A furnace might require cutting an acre of hardwood forest a day to be used in making the charcoal. You would never know by the sites today, that 150 years ago this area was clearcut for charcoal to keep these furnaces busy. This feat alone often caused a furnace to be shut down. These pictures were taken a few years back.
Today there is chain link fence around it.
There are remains of three furnaces on this site. In 1869 over 120 persons were employed here. The ruins of the 1768 furnace is still standing. The site is being restored, and walking tours are held from April to November . This furnace is different in that it was built from thin shale.