Wheel House

All early ironworks used water to power huge bellows which blew air into the furnace. At Hopewell, a dam was built on French Creek to create a small lake. A ditch or race allows the water to run to the waterwheel. As the water fills each bucket of the wheel, the weight of the water turns the wheel. As it turns, the water pours out and runs back into the creek. The race which brings the water to the wheel is called the headrace and the one that carries the water back to the creek is the tailrace.

Waterwheels were one of the first forms of power used by industry. At one time, dozens of small industrial sites used the water of French Creek to power their operations. This included furnaces, forges, sawmills and gristmills. In this way, the water was used over and over again for the benefit of man. We call this source of power a renewable resource. Today, water is still used for power. For example, electricity is generated at several dams on the Susquehanna River not many miles from here.

Next stop on your tour is the Office-Store.

A side view of the Wheel House. The race, leading from French Creek, can be seen coming in on the left.

 

As the waterwheel turns, air is forced from the blowing tubs to the square receiver box, then into the long pipe and finally into the bottom of the furnace.

 

Today, with water from French Creek still flowing over it, the waterwheel continues to provide a blast of air into the bottom of the furnace.