Thousands of steelworkers crossed this bridge and passed through these turnstiles to work at Bethlehem Steel’s Lower Works. The Lower Works was originally developed by Cambria Iron Company in 1848 and was later owned by Andrew Carnegie, Charles Schwab, and eventually the Bethlehem Steel Company. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites as part of the Cambria Iron & Steel National Historic Landmark, which is one of only two American steel mills to have received this designation.
Visible through the turnstiles is the Carpenter Shop, built circa 1870, which was originally used to make wooden patterns used in processes through the rest of the steel mill operation. Also visible is the Blacksmith Shop, considered the most historically significant structure of the Landmark, built circa 1864. It is home to a ten-ton steam hammer that was donated to the Smithsonian by Bethlehem Steel. These buildings supported the Cambria Iron Company’s original Bessemer steel plant and open hearth that were located to the right, where JWF now occupies Bethlehem Steel’s newer 11-inch mill building, built in 1959. At its peak, the mill operations covered a 13-mile stretch of Johnstown’s river valleys.
Cache is immediately along the Iron Street Trail. The coordinates should not take you onto any railroad tracks. The Point of Interest is ADA accessible. The cache container itself may require assistance.
This cache may be temporarily disabled and removed during Thunder in the Valley and Flood City Music Festival due to the high concentration of muggles during that period.
Our JAHA series features six cultural and historical sites in Johnstown and has been placed to demonstrate that micros can be an appropriate container size in some urban settings without being pointless lamppost or guardrail caches. If you enjoy this cache series, try our full size caches.
We consider all micros to be difficult, so we’ve rated each of them as we would see them. Other cachers may find them to be much easier. Please replace exactly as found. Do not drop. Some caches in the series will require more stealth than others. Bring your own pen and nano retrieval tools. Just initial the log.
If you spend more time looking for the container than you’ve spent enjoying the setting, you’ve missed the point of this cache.
Any log containing spoilers of location/container will be deleted. A hint/spoiler can no longer be access through the previously referenced gmail acount due to security cahnges implemented by google.
This cache placed with the assistance and permission of Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) and the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority.
This cache tends to migrate. please replace it in the exact location where you found it.
This is Featured Cache #10 of the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Geotrail, which highlights the scenic and historic amenities of the area. Be sure to collect and record the Geotrail Code Word from inside lid of this cache to your official Geotrail Passport, which can be obtained from the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. A map and list of all caches featured in the Geotrail can be found at visit link. or they can be bulk downloaded from the bookmark list. .