created: December 8, 2001

Cornwall Furnace is located in Lebanon County, east of Hershey and south of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. In the title view the stone cast house extends from the base of the blast furnace stack, which is almost completely hidden by the surrounding structures.

The blast machinery for this charcoal-fueled blast furnace was converted from water-power to steam-power during its service life. The boilers for the steam engine were encased in the brick addition atop the furnace stack. The arch-roofed structure contained the charging platform, where workers dumped raw materials into the furnace.

Here is the small steam engine that powered the blast machinery.

Iron ore for the Cornwall Furnace came from a nearby open pit mine. Before it was charged into the furnace, the ore was heated in these "roasters" to remove impurities. Cornwall iron ore was of a very high quality, and it was used in Bethlehem Steel's blast furnaces at Bethlehem, Pennsyvania into the late 20th Century.

Workers housing at Cornwall was built of stone, and later brick. This is one of the residential streets.

Return to Main Technology Tour Page