Near Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

A Diverse and Skilled Workforce

Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

1. A Diverse and Skilled Workforce Marker

Inscription. “A little group of them gathered around me at the top of the furnace opening...they wept very much because they were bound to work so hard during the week as well as on Sunday in the iron smelter and thus were seldom able to hear the Word of God...the signal was given for the pouring and each of them had to go back to work.”

— John Schlegel. Moravian Minister July 7, 1799, describing enslaved workers at Catoctin Furnace. Translated from German. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1799.

Location. 39° 34.857′ N, 77° 26.049′ W. Marker is near Thurmont, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker can be reached from Catoctin Furnace Road (Maryland Route 806) south of Red Bird Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12698 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont MD 21788, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Watchful Eye (a few steps from this marker); Dirty and Dangerous (a few steps from this marker); Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail (a few steps from this marker); Catoctin Iron Furnace (a few steps

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from this marker); a different marker also named Catoctin Iron Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Catoctin Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Resources: Use—Reuse—Recycle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ironmaster's Mansion (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thurmont.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

2. A Diverse and Skilled Workforce Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

3. Woodcutter

Woodcutters needed to fell enough wood to provide an adequate amount of charcoal to fuel the furnace —an acre of hardwood for every 24 hours of blast. The wood was chopped into four foot lengths no more than six inches in diameter. Watercolor by Lucy Irwin, 2020.Close-up of image on marker

Charcoal Collier image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

4. Charcoal Collier

Colliers transformed the chopped wood into charcoal to fuel the furnace. They built and tended multiple hearths slowly burning wood to turn it into charcoal. The coaling process took approximately twelve days of burning and four days of cooling. Woodcut by Constantine Kermes.Close-up of image on marker.

Furnace Filler image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

5. Furnace Filler

Fillers dumped charcoal, ore, and limestone into the tunnel head, enduring flame, smoke and cinders. This was one of the hardest and hottest furnace jobs. One African American worker in the cemetery had extremely high levels of zinc in his bones. Perhaps he was a filler, breathing zinc-enriched fumes at the top of the stack. Watercolor by Constantine Kermes. Close-up of image on marker

Company Clerk image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

6. Company Clerk

Company Clerks kept the books and managed the company store. The clerk ran the furnace in the absence of the ironmaster. NPS/Kenneth Townsend.Close-up of image on marker.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

7. Teamster

Teamsters with mule drawn wagons hauled charcoal and ore to the furnace. Before the 1830s teamsters also moved the finished products to market. Enslaved wagoneers Henry and Harvey are listed as property in Baker Johnson's 1809 will. Watercolor by Lucy Irwin 2020.Close-up of image on marker.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 18, 2021

8. Ore Miner

Ore Miners used pick axes to break iron ore into chunks that were then washed in a stream to remove surrounding soil and impurities. The mines at Catoctin contain goethite or brown iron ore. Woodcut by Constantine Kermes.Close-up of image on marker

Library of Congress

9. Founder

Founders made sure the furnace was kept at peak efficiency by constantly adjusting the bellows and the ratio of charcoal, ore, and flux. Since the furnace was in blast around the clock, the founder was assisted by a Keeper. Together they maintained a constant vigil. Otherwise, they ran the risk of the furnace “freezing up.” This meant that the molten iron within the furnace hardened before the process was completed. The only option to fix this catastrophe would be to deconstruct and rebuild the furnace entirely. This never happened at Catoctin. NPS/Kenneth Townsend.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 22, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 23, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.