Near Clarion in Clarion County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Helen Furnace
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 31, 2012
1. Helen Furnace Marker
Erected 1949 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 41° 17.25′ N, 79° 19.112′ W. Marker is near Clarion, Pennsylvania, in Clarion County. Marker is at the intersection of Miola Road (Pennsylvania Route 1005) and White Oak Drive (Pennsylvania Route 1004), on the right when traveling west on Miola Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clarion PA 16214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Clarion County (approx. 6.1 miles away); Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841 (approx. 6.1 miles away); Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike Milestone (approx. 6.1 miles away); Dr. Robert "Bob" Yoho (approx. 6.1 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Clarion, Est. 1841
this page online
Also see . . . Helen Furnace, Clarion County, Pennsylvania Highland Furnace. (Submitted on June 20, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 31, 2012
2. Helen Furnace Marker
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
3. Helen Furnace Entrance
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
4. Helen Furnace Sign Rear
Helen Furnace, one of numerous iron furnaces in Clarion County, was built in 1845 on the Alexander McNaughton Farm by Robert Baker and William Packer.
This cold blast furnace was operational until 1857. In 1856, within a 26 week period of operation, the furnace generated 1,000 tons of iron.
Final ownership of the furnace belonged to Samuel Wilson.
Dimensions of the furnace are 32' high, 12' across at the top, 30' across at the bottom and had an 8' bosh.
This cold blast furnace was operational until 1857. In 1856, within a 26 week period of operation, the furnace generated 1,000 tons of iron.
Final ownership of the furnace belonged to Samuel Wilson.
Dimensions of the furnace are 32' high, 12' across at the top, 30' across at the bottom and had an 8' bosh.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
5. Helen Furnace
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
6. Helen Furnace
Looking up through the chimney
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
7. Helen Furnace
Looking at the top from the rear. There used to be a catwalk from this point.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, June 20, 2014
8. Helen Furnace Descriptive Sign
Hieland Furnace
Where you are standing is the beginning of what was the charge ramp of the iron furnace know as
Helen Furnace
Robert Barker and William S. Packer erected the furnace at the State and Clarion road crossing, on the old McNaughton farm, in 1845. The builders named it "Highland" Furnace in honor of Alexander McNaughton who prided himself in being a Highlander, but the word being pronounced after the Scottish dialect "Hieland" (Pronunciation with Scottish accent was heeland) the name was corrupted to "Helen" Furnace, leading to the erroneous supposition that it was christened with a feminine name. The name of the township was the same origin; it is commonly, but incorrectly, pronounced "Helen" township. In 1850 it was owned by W.S. Packer and Company. On Barber & Packer's failure the property for a short time was in the hands of David Richey, and was finally purchased by Samuel Wilson, with whom D. McKim, of Strattanville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a partner for a while. The property passed into the hands of Samuel Wilson, who ran it till 1857. It was a two-tuyere Cold-blast Charcoal Furnace with an eight-foot bosh, thirty-two feet high, and powered by steam. In twenty-six weeks of 1856 it produced 756 tons of iron out of buhrstone coal measure ore mined back of the tunnel head. The Furnace was reconstructed in 1977.
Capacity in Tons................1,500 Kind of ore used................Argillareous Carbonate No. of Men & Boys Employed......100 No. of Horses & Mules Employed..70 Stack No. Tuyeres...............2 Stack Bosh......................9 feet Stack Height....................32 feet Kind of Power used..............Steam Kind of Metal made..............Close Gray Iron Largest Product.................1,500 Tons Actual Product in 1849..........1,000 Tons
Where you are standing is the beginning of what was the charge ramp of the iron furnace know as
Helen Furnace
Robert Barker and William S. Packer erected the furnace at the State and Clarion road crossing, on the old McNaughton farm, in 1845. The builders named it "Highland" Furnace in honor of Alexander McNaughton who prided himself in being a Highlander, but the word being pronounced after the Scottish dialect "Hieland" (Pronunciation with Scottish accent was heeland) the name was corrupted to "Helen" Furnace, leading to the erroneous supposition that it was christened with a feminine name. The name of the township was the same origin; it is commonly, but incorrectly, pronounced "Helen" township. In 1850 it was owned by W.S. Packer and Company. On Barber & Packer's failure the property for a short time was in the hands of David Richey, and was finally purchased by Samuel Wilson, with whom D. McKim, of Strattanville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was a partner for a while. The property passed into the hands of Samuel Wilson, who ran it till 1857. It was a two-tuyere Cold-blast Charcoal Furnace with an eight-foot bosh, thirty-two feet high, and powered by steam. In twenty-six weeks of 1856 it produced 756 tons of iron out of buhrstone coal measure ore mined back of the tunnel head. The Furnace was reconstructed in 1977.
Capacity in Tons................1,500 Kind of ore used................Argillareous Carbonate No. of Men & Boys Employed......100 No. of Horses & Mules Employed..70 Stack No. Tuyeres...............2 Stack Bosh......................9 feet Stack Height....................32 feet Kind of Power used..............Steam Kind of Metal made..............Close Gray Iron Largest Product.................1,500 Tons Actual Product in 1849..........1,000 Tons
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2012, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,470 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 3, 2012, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 20, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
