Maryland Geocaching Society
Cache Across Maryland 2010
This is one of ten caches placed for the 2010 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give you a taste of the state and show you just a part of its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them!
You are entering the Ashland Iron furnace Ruins from the 1800's. Large ruins over 100 feet wide in brick and stone survives from 3 anthracite-fires iron furnaces started here.
Three anthracite steam and water furnaces were erected at Ashland. The first which was 32 feet high and 11 feet wide at the boshes were built by Christian Geiger in 1837 and afterwards sold to Philip A and Samuel Small of York Pennsylvania and Joseph W and Edward Patterson of Baltimore who operated it under the firm name of Patterson Small and Co.
The second stack was erected in 1848, The ores were derived mainly from the Oregon Ore Banks nearly three miles to the west During the fifties a consolidation was effected with the Oregon furnace owned by Richard Green and the Ashland Iron Company incorporated with Richard Green as manager which position he held until his death in 1861.
A third furnace was erected here in 1864. Blast equipment was driven by both steam and water power. No 1 furnace is recorded to have made 2,513 tons of pig iron in thirty four weeks in 1854 and No 2 made 4,215 tons in 1856 The plant closed down for the last time in 1887