Bassenheim Furnace Traditional Cache
Keystone: As the owner has not responded to my prior note, I am archiving this cache page. Please note, cache pages that are archived by a Reviewer due to maintenance issues cannot be unarchived.
Regards,
Keystone
Geocaching.com Community Volunteer Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A short hike from the main road. You will need to bushwack for the last 100 feet or so. I got pretty dirty placing it.
This is the site of the old Bassenheim furnace, built by Basse Muller, founder of Zelienople, which he named after his daughter Zelie. He operated it until 1818, when he returned to Germany. P. L. Passavant was the actual director of work at the furnace from 1816 to 1818. Daniel Beltzhoover and Co. owned the furnace from 1818 to 1824 when it was closed. By 1826, Beltzhoover owned the farm where the ruins of the furnace stood. The bellows worked by water power until the dam gave way. A steam engine was then introduced. Its capacity was 5 tons of pigs and castings a week. A good portion of this furnace is still standing. Some of the outer wall is visible, and a section of one side of the inner wall rises several feet above the ground. You can still see pieces of coal lying on the ground around the area of the stack, and there is much slag in the Connoquenessing Creek below. Although the furnace is near Zelienople, and Dr. Basse lived in Zelienople, the furnace is located in Beaver County. Bassenheim Furnace was one of three blast furnaces in Beaver County. There were only two furnaces in Allegheny County. Of all of those, Bassenheim is the only one remaining. There are no traces left of the others.
Cache is a .30cal ammo can, well camoed. Further down the trail is a letter box I found while exploring the area.
Park at the intersection of Old Furnace Road, in the gravel area near the big white sign. The trail head is across the street. There is a historical marker with more info by the big yellow arrow sign.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
abg gur ubevmbagny bar gur iregvpny. tavegF/rcbE
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