Robeson Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Charcoal Barn
Inscription.
This is where the furnace fuel, charcoal, was
stored. The fuel was made from hardwood trees
cut from the forest that surrounded the furnace
complex. Why charcoal? Charcoal provided
much greater heat than wood. Temperatures
of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit were required to
melt iron ore.
The Connecting Shed joined the Furnace and the Charcoal Barn enabling workers to haul the fuel to the top of the stack. The storage barn had a gabled, slate roof.
In 1856 a fire started by a hot coal, caused the Charcoal Barn to burn to the ground. After the fire the building was enlarged by a third.
On the outside east wall of the building above the keystone of the window archway is the building reconstruction date -- 1856.
[photo caption] 1916 view of the Charcoal Barn and connecting shed. This sandstone building housed the fuel for the furnace operation.
Photo courtesy of Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley - Stauffer Collection
[photo caption] A 1932 view of the Charcoal Barn showing a deteriorated building without a roof.
Photo: Hagley Museum Library
[photo caption] From 1987 to 1988 Hay Creek Valley Historical Association volunteers labored to cut out the mortise and tenon joints of the huge supporting timbers of the first and second floors of the Charcoal Barn.
Photo: Ron Schlegel Collection
[photo caption] The masonry Charcoal Barn was reconstructed in 1987. Volunteers used period tools to construct the beams of the building.
Today the Charcoal Barn houses the Association's museum.
Photo: Ron Schlegel Collection
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.
Location. 40° 11.478′ N, 75° 53.209′ W. Marker is in Robeson Township, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. Marker is on Furnace Road, half a mile east of Morgantown Road (Pennsylvania Route 10), on the right when traveling east. This CAN be seen from Furnace Road, running at the top of the hill. "Office / Store" marker is further east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Furnace Road, Morgantown PA 19543, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Office / Store (here, next to this marker); Blacksmith Shop (here, next to this marker); Joanna Furnace Mansion Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Ore Roaster (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joanna Furnace Industrial Complex (about 300 feet away); In Honor of the Men from Caenarvon Township (approx. 2.1 miles away); Alleghany Mennonite Meetinghouse (approx. 5.4 miles away); The Caernarvon Presbyterian Church (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Robeson Township.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.