Lock Ridge Park facts for kids
Lock Ridge Park is a cool park in Alburtis, Pennsylvania. It's built around an old blast furnace that used to make iron. This park is in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania.
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What is Lock Ridge Park?
Lock Ridge Park is a special place where you can explore history. It has the remains of an old iron-making factory called the Lock Ridge Iron Works. Today, this part is known as the Lock Ridge Furnace Museum.
The park also has fun outdoor areas. You can go fishing in Swabia Creek, which flows through the park. There's even a Little League Baseball field and a picnic area with restrooms and a fireplace. You can take a self-guided walking tour to learn all about the site.
History of the Iron Works
How it Started: The 1800s
The first furnace at Lock Ridge was built in 1868. It was made by the Lock Ridge Iron Company. This company was located near train tracks, which helped them move materials.
A year later, the Thomas Iron Company took over. They built a second furnace. At this time, making iron was a big deal in the Lehigh Valley. The Lock Ridge furnaces were called No. 7 and No. 8 by Thomas Iron.
These furnaces were special because they used a "hot blast" to burn anthracite coal. This was a new technology brought to the United States in 1839 by David Thomas, who started the company.
Changes in the 1900s
By the early 1900s, the furnaces were getting old. Even with some updates, they weren't as modern as other factories. People say they were the last furnaces in the United States to use anthracite coal for making iron.
In 1913, the company president suggested closing them down. But the next president, Ralph Sweetser, decided to rebuild them instead. Furnace No. 8 was rebuilt in 1914, and No. 7 in 1915.
They also started using coke instead of anthracite coal. But even with these changes, the Lock Ridge furnaces couldn't keep up. They stopped making iron in 1921.
From Factory to Park
After the furnaces closed, a man named William Butz bought them. He took apart most of the buildings to sell the metal and wood. But the strong stone structures were left behind.
The piles of waste material, called slag, were crushed and used for things like roofing until 1958. The train tracks that ran through the site were removed in the 1940s.
Eventually, the Butz family gave the land to Lehigh County. They wanted it to become a park for everyone to enjoy.
Lock Ridge Park Opens
In August 1976, Lock Ridge Park officially opened to the public. It covers about 59 acres. The park is managed by Lehigh County, which takes care of the grounds. The Lehigh County Historical Society helps by giving tours of the old furnace area.
