Frank Festa's Photo Gallery
Inside View Of Oven
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
I was half tempted to enter one of the ovens but "better sense" prevailed.
A single "Beehive"
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Charcoal Producing Ovens
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
The Red Bank Furnace had the distinction of having 42 "beehive" style oven located directly on the furnace bench.
I located 19 of the 42 ovens. The ovens not visited are there, I just didn't walk to say I found them
The Remains Of The Red Bank Furnae
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Like so many others, this old furnace, built 1859, has collapsed and rests under a blanket of nature.
Iron
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Seen here is a chunk of iron which would have been made at this...the Red Bank Furnace
Large Collection of Bosh Brick All Showing Encrusted Metal
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Found here was a large portion of the Red Bank Furnace bosh
A Metal Encrusted Half Brick
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
A metal encrusted brick could only mean molten metal, iron, was in very close proximity to this brick. The lining of an old stone iron producing furnace was made of refractory brick. So it would follow this is a "bosh" brick. If you find a bosh brick you find a furnace.
Caldwell's Illustrated Historical Combination Atlas of Clarion County, 1877, Red Bank Furnace
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Study this map closely. There are many intricacies seen here.
Cornor of Pike Furnace
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
Detailed information of 99.9% of these old iron furnaces is hard to come by at best.
The Pike Furnace built in 1844 and abandoned 1869. Production reports can be found in iron and steel related books. But actual day to day information is lost to history.
Upper Portion Pike Furnace
Additional furnace information being added (8/1/19) to the existing article posted December 2017…
22. Iron and the Old Stone Furnaces of Western Pennsylvania
4-6 courses of cut stone can be seen of the weed and brush covered Pike Furnace
