Servicing the Furnace Lock Ridge Furnace and Park - Alburtis PA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 40° 30.501 W 075° 35.628
18T E 449691 N 4484350
Iron was actually produced in the furnaces, but much of the action at Lock Ridge took place on the surrounding railroad tracks and in the nearby outbuildings.
Waymark Code: WM129HY
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 04/06/2020
Views: 2
Servicing the Furnace Lock Ridge Furnace and Park-Two “Donkeys” and a Massasoit
Iron was actually produced in the furnaces, but much of the action at Lock Ridge took place on the surrounding railroad tracks and in the nearby outbuildings. At the height of production, three trains operated on the site, and they were constantly on the move. A full-size locomotive, known as the Massasoit, carried raw material and pig iron between the furnaces and the main Catasauqua and Fogelsville line. Two smaller “donkey engines,” known as the Cinderella and Fairy, ran trains on narrow gauges in and out of the casting house and back to the slag bank. The three engines were housed in a large engine house, which was later disassembled.
The Carpenter and Blacksmith Shops
A number of buildings once surrounded the complex, each with their own function. Blacksmiths and carpenters worked full time to keep the furnace complex running properly. At the time, iron production was an evolving science that required trial-and-error and constant innovation. The skilled workers who repaired and improved the furnace’s machinery were on the front lines of that effort. Although most of the outbuildings were demolished, the arched doorways of the carpenter’s shop and the foundation of the blacksmith’s shop are still visible.
(Inscription beside the image in the lower left)
Unlike most furnaces at the time, Lock Ridge did not use mules or horses to move materials, making it one of the more modern facilities.
(Inscription under the photo in the upper right)
Men pose with the Massasoit steam engine.
(Collection of the Lehigh County Historical Society)
Group that erected the marker: William B. Butz Memorial Fund
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Church Street.
on the grounds of the Loch Ridge Furnace Museum-Lehigh County Parks.
Alburtis, PA USA
18011
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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