Scranton in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Blast Furnaces

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2008

1. The Blast Furnaces Marker

Inscription. These four stone stacks, built between 1841 and 1854, are the remnants of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company blast furnaces. The area in front was the casting floor. The molten iron was run into sand channels formed in the floor which served as molds for pigs and sows, bars of iron. The entire area was covered by a huge casting shed. In addition to the casting shed, an engine house and fuel and ore sheds were associated with the furnace.

The blast furnaces were part of a larger complex of rolling mills and steel works. The rolling mills were located further up Roaring Brook. The iron from the furnaces was taken there, reheated, refined, and rolled into rails and bars. The first steel works were added in 1875.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 41° 24.217′ N, 75° 39.814′ W. Marker is in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in Lackawanna County. Marker is at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and Mattes Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Cedar Avenue. Located at the Scranton's Iron Furnace Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Scranton PA 18505, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Scranton's Iron Furnace (a few steps from this marker); Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Shops (a few steps from

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this marker); Lackawanna Iron (a few steps from this marker); Scranton Iron Furnaces (within shouting distance of this marker); Supplying the Blast (within shouting distance of this marker); Casting Iron (within shouting distance of this marker); Rolling and Puddling (within shouting distance of this marker); Making Steel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scranton.

More about this marker. On the left, a photo shows The Casting Sheds front the furnace to the left. The engine house, with its sloped roof, is above and behind the furnaces. The company store and offices are in the square brick structure. A photo on the upper right shows The rolling and puddling mills, where molten iron was squeezed into balls and rolled into bars, were built in the 1840s. Another photo shows the casting floor. A map on the lower right shows the Property of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Co. in the City of Scranton.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2008

2. The Blast Furnaces Marker

The Blast Furnaces image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2008

3. The Blast Furnaces

The Casting Floor image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2008

4. The Casting Floor

The casting floor extended out from the furnaces, over what is now open area in front of the brook.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 981 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.