Catoctin Furnace (also known as Catoctin Iron Furnace) was constructed in 1774 by four brothers Thomas, Baker, Roger and James Johnson to produce pig iron from locally mined hematite. In blast by 1776, the furnace provided ammunition (cannon balls) for the American Revolution. Some sources state that it also provided cannon. They also state that iron from this furnace was (much later of course) used to make plates for the USS Monitor; however that is considered unlikely by researchers. The Johnson brothers owned the furnaces at the site at first collectively, and after 1793 singly, until 1811.
Ultimately, three furnaces were built at the site, each named for the site. The first Catoctin Furnace was rebuilt a short distance away in 1787. The second, named Isabella was built in the 1850s by Jacob Kunkel (references give dates from 1853 to 1867). It still stands, within Cunningham Falls State Park.
The first two furnaces burned charcoal. The third, which opened in 1873, burned coke (some sources say anthracite coal, though this would be more costly). The entire complex closed in 1903 (attributed to rising costs and the too-late introduction of a rail link).
The furnace's remains are located in Cunningham Falls State Park. A walking-tour handout is available in the park's visitor center.
Famous quotes containing the word furnace:
“‘Alas!’ quoth he, ‘but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I.
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns;
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals;
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defiled souls;”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)