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ARMSTRONG COUNTY

in West Central PENNSYLVANIA at one time had as many as fifteen old Cut Stone Iron Furnaces. We have found and photographed the sites of twelve and have GPS readings on all but American. All of the others are no longer visible. Most furnaces in Armstrong County are in a very bad state of deterioration. Biddle offers a very scenic approach with waterfalls and rapids. Monticello has a nice retaining wall below the highway, and Mahoning has a great stone lined charging bench. Brady's Bend has two large furnaces but they are behind a chain link fence in very heavy vegetation. Pine has a nice charging bench and McCrea and Stewardson are good sites to visit. American is a newly re-discovered site that deserves further follow up.

"Old" Redbank (aka Redbank) - Was along Redbank Creek in Madison Township. This steam powered cold blast charcoal furnace was built in 1841 by Alexander Reynolds and Christian Shunk. Shunk had withdrawn in 1842. It was blown out in 1853. He became the postmaster of Redbank, now Kellersburg. None of the stack remains, but slag has been found at the site(s&t)
Follow PA28 north from Kittanning to the village of Oakland (Distant Post Office). Turn left on SR1004 and follow it for about 4+ miles to Kellersburg. In Kellersburg turn right onto Greengate Road, opposite the church. Follow this road down the hill and through the strip mine area. The furnace can be recognized by the vast amount of slag scattered around. Nothing remains of the stack. Its location can be seen against the hill at the back edge of a large level area. Because of the stripping in this area it is difficult to give definite directions.
Approximate coordinates 40º 58.98N - 79º 26.41'W. to top
Phoenix - Was on Mahoning Creek in Redbank Township. Henry Smith, W. B. Travis, Jonathan Grischer, and Andrew Workman built Phoenix Furnace in 1846. It used a loamy hematite ore found nearby and was never very successful. It was blown out in 1853(s&t). It is now buried in several feet of mud and is no longer visible.
Follow PA85 east from Kittanning to its junction with PA839. Go left on PA839 through Dayton to Milton, or Phoenix as it is known locally. From the north end of the bridge over Mahoning Creek, south of Milton, proceed 1-3/4 miles on PA839 through Milton . Turn left on T605 for about 1/4 mile. Where the road bears right an old lane turns left, almost straight ahead. Park and walk down this overgrown lane. The furnace was located where the lane crossed the creek. Today the bridge is no longer there and the remains are buried under several feet of mud.
Coordinates 40º 55'N - 79º 13.38'W to top
Armstrong County Special sources
Lee Shaeffer, Pittsburgh, PA. Roaring Run Websire Biddle (Rock) Furnace (ls)
Jim Mayuric- New Redbank and American Furnaces(jm)
Karl Noucj, Sandy Lake, Pa.
Pat & Michael Hom, San Diego, Ca., Biddle, Stewardson, Pine, Brady;s Bend, Cowanshannock (ph)
Karl Nouck, Sandy Lake, Pa. American (km)
Ian Straffin, Meadville, Pa., Cowanshannock, (is)
Dan & Chris Dundon, Erie, Pa., Cowanshannock, Pine, (dd)
Buck Shumaker, New Bethlehem, Pa., Mahoning Furnace
Don Whitacre (dw) Allegheny site & kiln

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Web Page Written and Maintained by Richard Parks
Copyright © Richard Parks, Last updated March 27, 2010