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Jackson Rockingham Shade Somerset Wellersburg

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SOMERSET COUNTY

in Southwestern PA had 5 furnaces, 4 visited, photographed, and GPS locations verified. Shade is of great interest, with nearby grist mill remains, a good millrace and stone lined wheel pit, plus a nice hike to get to it. Jackson, although only a pile of stones, has a nice charcoal house remains, a good millrace, dam, wagon road and a history booklet available. Wellersburg and Somerset are easy to get to but only Wellersburg is of much interest with all external stones removed. Rockingham does not exist.



Wellersburg Furnace-2003 Wellersburg
Nov.2003
Rockingham - was on Dark Shade Creek, 6.6 miles north of Reels Corners, in Shade Township. This cold blast charcoal furnace was built in 1844 by John Foust. It was later run by Custer and Little. It was a small furnace with a 6' bosh and 21' stack(s&t). Another account says Rockingham was built in 1841 by William Oldham(s&t). A third account says it was built in 1843 and abandoned in 1856(jp). A coal tipple and coal operations have removed all trace of this furnace(s&t). To reach the site of Rockingham Furnace drive to Reels Corners on US30 in the eastern part of Somerset County and turn north on PA160 through Central City. At 6.6 miles you will see an enormous slate dump (s&t) on the left. There was an old building on the left which served as the Rockingham Post Office. Nearby was a coal tipple that occupied the site of Rockingham Furnace. No traces are found. Coordinates 40º 8.15'N - 78º 48.8'W. to top
Somerset County Special Sources:
Jackson Furnace and Iron Works, published by Sequanota Camp, Jennersburg PA, 2002(jfs)
Lawrence Hutchinson (lh), Cairnbrook, PA - Shade Furnace
Mark Ware (mw) Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County
IUP Archaeological Services(iup) - www iuparchaeology.iup.edu/shade.htm
Mountain Laurel Trout Unlimited(mlt) - www.mltu.org/Fisheries/shade_creek.htm
Mike McKenzie (mm) - Wellersburg Furnace
History of Bedford, somerset & Fulton Co.PA 1884, Waterman Watkins(bsf).
Pat & Michaerl Hom, San Diego, Ca., Jackson (pj)
Pastor Jack Timm, Lutheran Conference Center and Camp, Jernnerstown, Pa., Jackson
Brian L. Fritz (bf)
Lannie Dietle, Houston, Texas Wellersburg


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Copyright © Richard Parks, December 28, 2009