Maria Furnace, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Furnace
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 Maria Furnace
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Adams |
| Township | Hamiltonban |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
17320
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| Area code(s) | 717 |
| GNIS ID | 1180406 |
Maria Furnace is a small, quiet place in Adams County, Pennsylvania, near a mountain range called South Mountain. It's located right by a stream called Toms Creek. This spot might seem like any other, but it holds a piece of history! Back in 1822, it was home to an important industrial site: a blast furnace. This furnace was named "Maria Furnace" and it played a big role in making iron for the area.
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What is Maria Furnace?
Maria Furnace is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a town or city. Instead, it's part of a larger area, in this case, Hamiltonban Township. It's located west of a town called Fairfield.
The Historic Blast Furnace
The main reason Maria Furnace is famous is because of the old blast furnace that once stood there. A blast furnace is a huge industrial oven used to melt iron ore. This process creates liquid iron, which can then be shaped into useful metal products. The Maria Furnace began operating in 1822. It was a busy place, helping to produce iron that was important for building things and making tools in the early 1800s.
Why Iron Was Important
In the 1800s, iron was a super important material. It was used to make all sorts of things, from tools and farm equipment to parts for buildings and even cannons. Furnaces like Maria Furnace were vital for the economy and growth of the region. They helped supply the iron needed for many different industries.
Moving Operations to Caledonia
The Maria Furnace didn't operate in this exact spot forever. After some time, the iron-making operations were moved to a new location. This new place was Caledonia, which is now a state park. The move likely happened because Caledonia offered better resources or a more convenient location for the growing iron industry.
What Remains Today?
Today, you won't find a working furnace at Maria Furnace. What's left are the remains of the original blast furnace. These remains are mostly a pile of rocks. They are located in a small wooded area and are quite overgrown with plants and trees. It's like a hidden historical treasure, showing where an important part of Pennsylvania's industrial past once stood. You can find these historical remains at these coordinates: 39 degrees, 46 minutes, 30.64 seconds North, and 77 degrees, 24 minutes, 25.98 seconds West.
