Hopewell Furnace, PA

HOPEWELL FURNACE, PA

Located 35 AIR miles northwest of Philadelphia, just off SH 345, 6.5 miles northeast of Elverson, the history of this wonderful little ghost dates back to the fall of 1743, when William Bird erected a forge near Birdsboro, which he called Hopewell Forge. By the spring of 1744, pig iron was being produced. William Bird died in 1761, and the forges were taken over by his son, 22 year old Mark Bird.

In 1770 rich iron deposits were found about 10 miles south of the forge, and in 1771 Hopewell Furnace was erected on French Creek. By 1772 the charcoal powered furnace was in full blast. Some of the items produced included pig iron, cannons, pots, stove plates, tools, window sash weights, and shot for use by the Continental Army and Navy.

After the war ended, Bird tried to expand his holdings, and stretched his finances too far. The economic recession of the 1780s broke him, and in 1788 Bird sold Hopewell and his other properties to repay various obligations.

The furnace was now under new ownership, but due to litigation and major repairs, it wasn't until 1816 that the furnace began to pay for itself again.

The facility's production skyrocketed. Between 1825 and 1850 the operation averaged 1000 tons of pig iron annually. A village of 1000 people had grown up around the furnace. It included the furnaces, a blacksmith shop, company store and office, homes for the workers and their families, the ironmaster's mansion, livery stable/barn, schoolhouse, and wheelwright.

By 1850 coal powered furnaces out produced the charcoal furnaces, and activity declined until the Civil War, when there was a brief flurry of activity. Decline again set in until June 15, 1883 when the furnaces shut down.

There was some spotty activity until 1913.

In 1935 the old village stood deserted except a few folks living in run down cabins. The Federal government purchased the site and in 1946, the historic old community was made a historic site and reconstruction began.

Today the restored village is one of the best examples of a mid-1800s iron forge community.

This was our GHOST TOWN OF THE MONTH for May 2002.

This is one of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & Today^TM^.

LOCATION:

· Latitude: 40.2053610 / 40° 12’ 19” N

· Longitude: -75.7735910 / 75° 46’ 25” W

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