This cache is part of the 25 cache Pennsylvania State Parks America250PA GeoTrail. Have fun exploring and discovering Pennsylvania's history!
A Glimpse into Iron Making
The American colonies’ ability to produce iron is said to have aided in their success and ability to defend themselves against their enemies. Famous historian Arthur Binning once said, “If the iron industry had not reached this stage [of advanced development] prior to 1775, it is doubtful whether the colonists could have defended themselves against the British Army.” The Iron Act of 1750, meant to limit what furnaces could manufacture, only added fuel to the fire and led many ironmasters to support the revolution. By trying to control the iron industry in the colonies, Britain only aided in creating the ammunition that would be used to defeat them.
Pine Grove was a young furnace at the time, having gone into blast sometime during the early 1770’s, but it produced tons of products used in the war. Nestled in the mountains, close to the raw materials, they had the advantage of being not only self-sufficient, but also well hidden. Records indicate that Pine Grove Furnace cast shells, 8 & 10 inches, as well as shot, 18 & 24 pounds. This order from 1780 along with purchase dates suggest that ammunition from Pine Grove may have been used at the Battle of Yorktown.
While the smelting of iron into shot and shell may be viewed as a difficult task of war, the true hard work lied in digging out the ore. Fuller Lake, now a fun swimming area, used to be a nearly 90 feet deep iron ore quarry! By gazing into the past, we can see transparently how a once industrial area used to support the war, has turned into a wonderful recreation area.
For more information about this state park and its amenities, please visit the website: Pine Grove Furnace State Park | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: Photo curtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society.