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Different areas of
the Lock Ridge Furnace Complex
Photographs by Sue Pridemore |
Construction
of the Lock Ridge Iron Furnace began in 1868 during the
peak of the anthracite iron industry. Utilizing anthracite
coal or coke rather than charcoal as fuel, a hot rather
than cold blast to speed oxidation, and a steam engine
rather than bellows to force the hot blast into the furnace,
anthracite iron making flourished in the valleys of the
Susquehanna, Schulkill, and Lehigh Rivers from about 1840
to 1890. Lehigh Valley was the most important center of
the industry. The Lock Ridge Furnace continued to operate
until after WW I, long after most other furnaces had succumbed
to competition from major firms using modern equipment.
The site was restored as a park and museum in the early
1970s. The furnace now consists of the furnace room, engine
room and cast room of Furnace No. 7; the former weighmaster's
house; the oil house; partial ruins of Furnace No. 8 and
its associated buildings; the carpenter's shop; the blacksmith
shop; and the piers for the trestles which received railroad
cars carrying materials. The Lock Ridge complex is one
of only two remaining furnaces of the many that were in
operation in central and eastern Pennsylvania in 1876.
The Lock Ridge Furnace Museum is located at 525
Franklin St, in Alburtis. The hours are Saturday-Sunday,
1:00pm to 4:00pm, May-September. Call 610-435-4664 or
visit the Lehigh County website for
more information. |