Built in 1829 as a charcoal fired cold blast furnace, it was dpdated to hot blast in 1837. It is the earliest surviving example of the hot blast process in the nation and is a National Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Constructed of brick, stone, iron and mortar the furnace rests on a 24-foot square cypress raft set on the then-swampy ground. Bog ore, charcoal and shells were loaded into the top; oxygen was added at the south arch by a bellows powered by a waterwheel. Slag (north arch) and iron (east arch) were tapped at the furnace base. The Historic American Engineering Record MD - 76 may be viewed at www.nps.gov/hdp/haer/index.htm or email kfisher@intercom.net to have a copy mailed.

SEE FACT SHEET:

IRON FURNACE MATH
MARYLAND IRON AND AMERICAN LIFE IN THE 1800'S
IRON MAKING AND USES IN THE 1800'S

IRON MAKING: FROM BLOOMERY TO BLAST