Hopewell Furnace, Elverson, PA

Hopewell Furnace is an "iron plantation" in Southern Pennsylvania.  We probably would not have chosen to go here for a visit, but it was only about 10 miles from the campground where we were staying.  But I'm glad that we went because it was really interesting.  Hopewell Furnace was a place where they built a large furnace and used the raw materials that were nearby to make iron.  They made "pig iron" bars and they used sand casts to make pots and pans for cooking and tools.  In later years, they made iron plates that were assembled to make stoves.  It is called a plantation because the people lived, worked, and shopped on site.  Everything that they needed including church and doctors, as well as a farm with sheep and cattle, was there so that they did not need to leave in order to care for themselves or their families.

Hopewell stoves.

An elaborate process went into making charcoal pits in order to turn wood into charcoal need to heat the furnace. This fire pit is still being built.  Once finished, they would be lit and tended around the clock for about 2 weeks before the charcoal would be ready.

The top of the furnace where the iron ore and limestone, along with the charcoal was dumped in layers to make the iron

A giant water wheel operated the bellows to make the fire in the furnace hotter.

Bottom of the furnace where the molten iron would be drawn out to make into bars or cast into items.

Some of the items made at Hopewell furnace.

Tables and sand used by the men who did the casting of stove plates and pans.

The ironmaster's house.

The company store.