Each year at this time the historic JoAnna Furnace has a Fall Festival that has lots of crafts, exhibits, old cars, apple cider, and old woodworking equipment from long ago. I enjoy going here each year to see what might have changed since the last year. This is the time that the leaves are just starting to turn colors, but there is not much right now. It will be in time. October is the main month around here for that. It will extend into early November. Then all the trees turn a winter brown.
Built in 1742 this iron furnace was making iron for the Revolutionary War, iron stoves, and many other items used at the time. It was a cold blast furnace that always was in operation until around 1850 when steel started being the better metal. The building on the left was the pump house where air was added to the furnace. What remains of the furnace is still visible in the center. The larger building to the right was used to cast the molten iron into sand molds.
This is the building or barn that Charcoal was stored in before being dumped by carts, wagons, and hand held carts into the furnace. In 1822 it caught fire and burned to the ground. It was quickly re-built cause it was needed for storage.
This important building was used to make horse shoes, and tools needed to make the iron.
Here the records of all the iron that was made and what it was for where kept. It was also a store where the workers could buy food and needed items.
Where wagons & wheels were made or repaired.
This fella was trying to repair a old “Hit & Miss Engine” that was used very often during the early times. Told me that the fuel valve was broken. It was back running when I came by again. There was about 6 different types of old engine’s.
I had returned to the area where the Festival was held to get the images above. Before this area here was full of people walking around viewing the exhibits, getting food, and just enjoying the nice day. It was most impossible to shoot pictures with all the people getting in the way. It looks a bit funny to see it so empty now. Next year it will start all over again.
Thanks for stopping by.
Les
PHOTOJOURNAL OF CORKER2 