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Iron Furnace
Restoration Work
Newsletter
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Iron Furnace Park, Main Street
Lonaconing, Maryland |
In 1837, the George's Creek Coal and Iron Company built a coal-fueled blast furnace for cast iron production. First fired in 1839, it operated as a commercial production furnace until 1855, when easily available deposits of iron ore were exhausted. This furnace was the first in the U.S., probably the first in the world, to do continuous commercial production, using coal (instead of charcoal) as the furnace fuel. The massive block-stone furnace structure, which houses the fire-brick walled furnace, is in Lonaconing, Maryland, the center piece of a community park.
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(Click a picture for a different view.) |
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Thanks for your help!
MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST
Fiscal Year 2005 Capital / Historic Preservation Grant Awards.
$ 50,000 awarded to the George's Creek Promotion Council of Lonaconing, Maryland, Inc. for the Lonaconing Iron Furnace.
Project work includes maintenance evaluation, structural analysis and mitigation of moisture problems, stone and brick masonry repairs and restoration for the Lonaconing Iron Furnace.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
Work now in progress.
REFERENCE:
http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/2capgr.html
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Historic rubble, some of which may be a century old, fills the access tunnels inside the stone superstructure which surrounds the column of the furnace chamber. Behind this rubble is the fourth access chamber of the furnace, the chamber for the slag outlet port.
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| In an ongoing program of many years, residents of Lonaconing and of the George's Creek area continue to investigate refurbishing the Iron Furnace. In 1979, a detailed refurbishment plan was prepared by Meyers, D'Aleo, and Patton, Inc. of Baltimore; in 1994 the plan was revised and updated by Regan-Matonak and Associates of Hagerstown. Presently, a revised plan is being prepared for submission to the George's Creek Promotional Council in preparation for bid submissions.
Many of the suggested improvements below are from these plans. An updated Master Plan is in preparation prior to grant requests to private and public historical funding agencies and foundations. (Draft proposal information is available on request - please email Lonaconing@midatlantic.cc)
Suggested work so far includes - - -
- Stabilize the physical structure by removing the present plant growth and inhibiting future plant growth.
- Remove by mechanical and/or chemical treatment the limestone deposits which have been left by rainwater leakage into of all three chambers.
- Sandblast the exterior and interior surfaces to restore the original sheen and texture of the superstructure.
- Determine the acceptability and feasibility of removing the ancient rubble in the alley area.
- Determine the acceptability and feasibility of treating the exposed stone and brickwork with a moisture retardant coating.
- Determine the acceptability and feasibility of removing the excess dirt and grass over what may be the original foundation and flooring.
- Examine the iron reinforcement rods for deterioration and repair as needed to insure the future integrity of the structure.
- Seal and cap the top of the structure, preferably with flagstone to reproduce the original top.
- Providing a better floor for both wing areas -- natural spring water from the ridge above the furnace leaks through the walls and leaves the areas swampy much of the year. Installing underground drains to drain the excess water.
- Determine the acceptability and feasibility of installing a safety railing so as to permit public access to the cap of the structure. Improve the security fencing to improve the safety of the area.
- Improved parking area for the convenience of buses and cars.
- An access ramp along the right side of the terrace to permit handicapped access.
- Rain shelters along both sides of the park -- protection from the frequent mountain showers which the area is prone to.
- Restroom facilities close to the street -- available for both visitors and events.
| Currently, proposals are being made to departments of the Maryland State government and possible other sources of funding for this type of work. |
[-- Additional Snapshots --]
A closer look at the continuing
deterioration problems. |
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WORK COMPLETED IN 2010
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An engineering study is being prepared to determine what maintenance/restoration work can be done at this time, prior to a request for bids. Priority items include completion of the vegetation removal, underground drains to carry off ground water, a concrete cap to shield the masonry from rain water, restoring the damaged brick mortar and waterproofing the stone and brickwork, and additional security fencing at the bridge area. Night lighting may be improved, also.
The lower level vegetation growth on the furnace structure has been removed -- additional work will require the use of scaffolding.
The border areas on both sides of the furnace wings has been cleared of brush growth.
Funding provided by the Maryland Historical Trust (100 Community Place, 3rd Floor, Crownsville, MD 21032 - phone 410-514-7600),
www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net , for the above work is very much appreciated.
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WORK COMPLETED IN 2009
 The two-story white house to the left of the park was donated to the town of Lonaconing -- sometime in the near future, the deteriorated house will be removed to make room for a modern building and for a memorial garden in its rear.
We gratefully thank the donor and family for this very significant addition to the park and for their continuing commitment to the maintenance and restoration of the iron furnace.
The hedge and fence separating the house grounds from the park was removed by Lonaconing town maintenance crew to permit access to this new area from the present park property.
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 A childrens swing set was added to the playground area-- thank you to Maryland State, Department of Natural Resources and their Open Space program. Grounds maintenance was done by the workers of the town of Lonaconing -- no significant work was done to the iron furnace structure this year.
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WORK COMPLETED IN 2008
The grounds were maintained by the workers of the town of Lonaconing. The shrub beds at the front of the park were reworked. No work was done to the iron furnace structure.
WORK COMPLETED IN 2007
Thank you -- to the various institutional and individual donors who made this work possible, especially Maryland State, Department of Natural Resources, in their Open Space program!
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- New concrete work to replace aging walks leading to the Iron Furnace. (Upper left.) Maryland D.N.R." Open Space"
- Purchase and installation of play equipment in the children's corner. (Upper right.) Maryland D.N.R." Open Space"
- Purchase and installation of new park lighting. (Left.) Maryland D.N.R." Open Space"
- Clearing of old shrubbery and trees in the park area; grounds maintenance; general repairs Town of Lonaconing
- Purchase and installation of schematic drawing display, lower terrace, to the right of the furnace. (Below - both.) Georges Creek Promotion Council
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Again, Thank You!
To our individual, community business, and institutional donors
Organizations and Businesses
- Town of Lonaconing
- Maryland State Department of Natural Resources -- "Open Spaces Program"
- Maryland Historical Trust -- www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net
- George's Creek Promotional Council, Maryland -- web8.cc/georgescreek/promotion
- RK&A, Lonaconing, Maryland -- www.web8.cc
Questions? Comments! -- Lonaconing@midatlantic.cc
Letters to: George's Creek History Exhibit, P.O.Box 240, Lonaconing, MD 21539
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