Cliff, My wife Suzan and I were re-enactors at at Howell Iron works in Allaire Park years ago. Many wooden Buildings and the Stack of the Foundry survive, Just like you described, they didn't have Anthracite, WE were also met a man who was probably one of the last people to produce charcoal from pine trees. Jersey's foundries were very important for the Revolutionary War but Charcoal and low grade ore doomed the furnaces throughout the state when Pennsylvania's high grade coal and iron ore were so superior. Fulton's Steam Ship engines were made from the iron extracted at the Allaire forge. I wish it had been open inside when you visited and when we lived in Jersey. We missed a lot of Pennsy history, but at least we have you and your trusty "steed", to inform us. Cheers, Rik Spector

Such a fantastic video thanks. How wonderful to make museum out of a furnace. That stonework was just beautiful. Also loved the slag mountain. Hope you do go back when museum open. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

It's one of the most popular places to photograph engagement sessions and family portraits in the Lehigh Valley. I shot a wedding there . Great location!!!

Interesting place. Thanks for bringing us here and telling us its story.

👍🍻Love these old Iron Furnaces and related buildings. Nice post, Cliff. I did not know abt this one. Hopewell still No. 1 on my list of favorites, though. 👍 (closer to home too. LOL)

Thank you!

Thank you for taking me back. This is one of my favorite places in the world, but I don't often get back there.

I love going there to take photos its a beautiful spot

Swabian (the creek name) is also an old Holy Roman Empire principality in SW Germany. My ancestors are from there.

If you noticed on the poster one of the train routes went to Fogelsville which is where the limestone came from. I hope one day you get to go inside because they have the pig iron channels and castings from such. Thank for the video. Stay well and be safe.

Great location! The brick arch bridge carried the Catasaqua and Foglesville railroad on its way to the iron ore mines in Rittenhouse Gap.

Great video. Lock Ridge Iron Furnace is basically "out my backdoor". The Thomas Iron Company had ties to the mines that were located in Longswamp Township as well. There used to be a railway that went from Longswamp Township to Thomas Iron Co. and also up to Fogelsville. There were several Iron Furnaces in the area. A lot of people take their graduation pictures as well as wedding photos at Lock Ridge.

Another terrific video, Cliff. This park is also known for a one acre patch of grape hyacinth that blooms in mid April. Apparently a worker from the iron furnace planted some and they have expanded ever since. I know you love your spring wildflowers so I thought you might consider a return trip to enjoy them. Thanks again, Patrick

I did not read your thumb nail. I thought you were at a church as was going to explore the cemetery there. I was wrong...lol That was a really cool place to check out.

What a fabulous place! Thanks for sharing this one. Hope you are feeling better. I have had this cold for almost two weeks now and although I feel better, the amount of gunk that gets stored in one's head is astonishing. Using a Neti Pot really helps clear things out. It's kind of gross but it really works.

Thank You!

That slag pile looks as big as the pile at the Iron Valley golf course in Cornwall. You can see the giant pile from route 419

Loved this one! According to that map,it looked like the tunnel was to your right from the map. You went left. Probably why you missed it. I live the blacksmith house. It did look like a church. Great video! ❤❤❤❤❤

This would great for local school day trips for the history. I remember going to the Moravian Village ( near Musikfest is located). The history there was very interesting as well. I think kids would appreciate local history, or not. It would be nice to visit while it's still around. Thanks Cliff, nice video. Also David Thomas had his house on Pine Street and 2nd Street in Catasauqua, Pa. Which are apartments now.

Very cool. 👍👍👍👍👍😁👍👍👍👍

Fantastic Clive!! I did not know about this Furnace. I live in Cambria Co. I looked it up and Thomas was a well know Ironmaster in Wales who came to America in early 1800s. My grandmother was from Wales. I love learning about Welsh history in Pa. It was later sold to Bethlehem Steel, and they scrapped it. Happy portions of the of it were saved. Thank you for all the history lessons!

Impressive ruins!

Hay Cliff, there was a big iron furnace in the town of Emmaus at 10th and Broad street

Cool tour-thanks!

Very cool and interesting.

Most museums are closed on Mondays...just FYI

So no hours posted when open? I looked elsewhere and found 6 AM to 8:45 PM 7 days a week. That information may be old. I saw a paper on the door but ripped. Maybe COVID restrictions over time closed it.

Lots of new fencing for safety issues I see , the park is getting in bad shape,