Name: Hopewell Furnace (view items)
Industry type: Materials
Industry: Iron
Country: United States
State/County/Province: Pennsylvania
City: Elverson
Start year: 1771
End year: 1883
Company: Unknown
Notes: Cold blast charcoal iron furnace, now a National Historic Site http://www.nps.gov/hofu/historyculture/index.htm
Furnace consumed 6000 to 7000 cords of wood, or 200 acres of woodlands each year. Iron production with anthracite coal was briefly tried at Hopewell during the 1850s, but was not economically viable due to the expense of hauling it to the furnace.
Blowing engine powered by a 22-foot diameter wooden breast water wheel, replaced several times during operation and subsequently restored.
Furnace used iron ore from 3 local mines.
In 1776-77 approximately 100 "great guns" were cast at Hopewell Furnace for the Continental Navy.