Union Township near Elverson in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Cooling Shed
Hauling and cooling charcoal
Teamsters drove wagonloads of hot, newly made charcoal to this cooling shed. Paid by the load delivered, workers dumped charcoal here by removing wagon floorboards. Once charcoal cooled, it was moved and piled in the stone storage house in front of you and later used as furnace fuel.
Occasionally charcoal caught fire. To salvage part of his load, a teamster pulled wagon floorboards, dropping charcoal to the ground. During an uncontrollable fire, a teamster headed his wagon straight for a stream.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources.
Location. 40° 12.342′ N, 75° 46.476′ W. Marker is near Elverson, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It is in Union Township. Marker can be reached from Mark Bird Lane. Marker is next to the cooling shed on the grounds of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site off Shed Road (Pennsylvania Route 345). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 Mark Bird Ln, Elverson PA 19520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Anthracite Furnace (a few steps from this marker); Headraces (within shouting distance of this marker); Charcoal Kilns (within shouting distance of this marker); Charcoal Pit (within shouting distance of this marker); Ironmaster's Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Warwick Furnace (approx. 3.1 miles away); Colonel Thomas Bull (approx. 3.9 miles away); Swedish Pioneers (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elverson.
Also see . . . Hopewell Furnace. (Submitted on November 1, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 607 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 1, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6, 7. submitted on November 3, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.