Washington Furnace, Ohio
N 38° 50.150 W 082° 35.963
17S E 361183 N 4299774
Very interesting furnace in Jackson County, Ohio.
Waymark Code: WM11T6
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 12/18/2006
Views: 77
According to the website: (
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Washington Furnace is in very poor condition. The entire inner portion is filled with fallen rubble, including the inner firebrick and upper stack. There are two tuyeres, both almost buried in the ground fill. The area in front of the furnace is swampy and may be slowly undermining the furnace, although it does appear to be elevated above the wet area. The area above the furnace has evidence of large slag formations and some salamanders. It is highly possible that a large salamander damaged the fn and it was never repaired, but this supposition needs to be investigated. There are a number of interesting features on the LH side of the fn, including a blast pipe and associated cover. I found evidence of a pipe in the hill next to the blast tube, most probably one of the steam or water pipes for the hot blast.
First Visited: 1Q 2002
Last Visited: 1Q 2004
History
Start of Operation: 1853 (Lesley reports 1852)
Blowout: ?
Daily Tonnage: 7-8 tons per day
Built By: John Cambell, John Peters, & Others
Stack: 34 feet w/11 foot bosh
Blast: Hot
Type: Charcoal
According to the Lawrence Register, Washington Furnace was built in 1851 by John Peters. He superintended the construction of the furnace. He was a part owner in the furnace, along with Samuel McConnnel, Isaac Peters, John Cambell, W.M. Bowles, and Thomas McGovney.
Per J.P. Lesley, the ch fn was owned by J. Peters & Co., S. McConnell financial agent, and managed by William Colvin. In thirty seven weeks of 1857 the fn produced 1,967 of iron out of limestone coal measure ores.