Updates From the Centre County Historical Society

IRON SMELTING

Posted Monday, May 07, 2012

Iron Smelting Demonstration on Father's Day
Sunday, June 17 ~ 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
at Centre Furnace Mansion
1001 E. College Ave., State College, PA 16801

Grandfathers, Dads, and Sons will enjoy spending some time together learning about an industry that was traditionally run by men: Iron Making. Centre Furnace is one of nearly two dozen iron furnaces in Centre County's History. Throughout the day on Sunday, June 17th, Steven Walton, Assistant Professor of Science, Technology & Society (STS) at Penn State and an historian of industry, will be smelting iron from rock ore on the Centre Furnace Mansion grounds.

Using crushed iron ore and charcoal, the process will turn rock into metal over the space of about 6 hours. Dr. Walton will be using a modern materials replica of a low shaft iron blast furnace—a small-scale replica of what went on in the Centre Furnace itself from 1796 to the 1820s. The experimental furnace is made from a modern terra-cotta chimney liner and a straw-clay mixture and replicates an early medieval furnace, with the exception that the air blast comes from a modern blower rather than a waterwheel. In the early morning, the furnace gets lit and heated until it is full of glowing charcoal and then alternate layers of iron ore and charcoal are added as it burns itself down. If all goes well, by later afternoon a ‘bloom’ of iron will have formed in the middle of the furnace. When the last ore is added and the charcoal burns itself out, he can recover the bloom and (hopefully) begin to forge it. There will be discussion all day long about the process, the history of iron mining and iron making, as well as an opportunity to see the process in action.

Stop by the Centre Furnace Mansion Museum Store in advance to purchase iron industry related gifts to wrap up for Dad this Father's Day. Ideas include the books The Centre Furnace Story and Iron Industry in Pennsylvania, or a pewter ornament of the Iron Furnace stack - hand-crafted by local artisan Jerry Jackson. Then bring Dad to the Mansion on Father's Day to walk the trail to the furnace stack, tour the iron-master's mansion, and observe the iron smelting in action. Visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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