Catoctin Furnace

A Rich History

By Elizabeth Comer

The history of Catoctin Furnace represents, in microcosm, the history of the Industrial Revolution in America. From 1776 to 1903 iron companies mined the rich ore banks near Catoctin Mountain, smelted it in furnaces, and cast both raw pig iron and iron implements of every description.

The furnace site grew into a village complex with a concentration of specialized workers. A charcoal house, casting house, foundry, forge, stables, wagon sheds, saw mill, store, and church were all necessary to the iron operation, not to mention housing for miners, colliers, furnace fillers, founders, forge men, foremen, blacksmiths and other skilled workers. Enslaved Africans provided a large part of the labor force at Catoctin Furnace in the early days. It was common for enslaved African laborers to be used in iron manufacture in the mid-Atlantic. Highly skilled and experienced, these enslaved craftsmen worked as blacksmiths, colliers, founders, and forge men. In addition to their roles in the making of iron, members of the enslaved community toiled in the vineyard and at other agrarian tasks on large farms surrounding the furnace. They also worked as domestic servants for the ironmasters and their families.

By the middle of the 19th century, the number of enslaved workers at Catoctin declined sharply as large numbers of European immigrant workers moved into the area. Hiring European immigrant labor was cheaper than keeping a large, enslaved population.

Throughout the 19th century, periods of instability, changes and modernization characterized the industry. In 1857, “Isabella,” a sophisticated new furnace powered by steam-operated machinery and a 33-foot-high furnace stack was added to the complex. “Isabella” was in continuous blast until 1893 and is still standing today. In 1873 a third stack was built about 140 feet south of “Isabella”.

Named “Deborah,” this new stack was a steam- and water

AT THE CATOCTIN FURNACE:

MUST see’s

1. Isabella 2. Museum of the Ironworker 3. African American Cemetery

Interpretive Trail 4. Collier’s Log House 5. Forgeman’s House Carty-Miller House

powered, coal fired furnace with a daily capacity of 35 tons of pig. It was built in hopes of reviving the failing Catoctin Furnace complex, but in 1903 Catoctin Furnace was forced to shut down due to its unprofitability.

Catoctin Furnace was the victim of changing technology and transportation access. Today, the stack known as “Isabella” is the focal point of the Catoctin Furnace remains. The 1858 casting shed has been reconstructed next to it. Just south of the furnace are stone and log houses originally occupied by company workers. An interpretative trail connects the furnace area to the Museum of the Ironworker which includes forensic facial reconstructions of two enslaved workers. The Collier’s Log House and the Museum of the Ironworker are open every Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm., and by appointment at other times. The restored ca. 1821 Forgeman’s House is available for overnight rental. A cemetery containing the remains of some of the enslaved workers is located in the Catoctin Furnace area. Self- guided walking tour brochures for the furnace area and the village of Catoctin Furnace are available.

Learn more about Catoctin Furnace history, activities, and special events at www.catoctinfurnace.org or by calling 240-288-7396. Museum open every weekend or by appointment. Guided tours available. Seasonal events with free children’s activities.

The Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery represents what is thought to be the most complete African American cemetery connected with early industry in the United States. More than 100 individuals who labored at the iron-working furnace and in its surrounding community from the 1770s to the 1840s were buried there. Many of these individuals were enslaved workers, some of whom may have been brought directly from Africa for their valuable iron-working skills. Other individuals were probably part of the free black population that also lived and worked at the furnace. The labor pool included skilled artisans such as forge workers, colliers, masons, and carpenters. The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society is committed to increasing public awareness of the role African Americans played in the iron industry at Catoctin Furnace and elsewhere and to highlight the impact of African Americans on the industrial history of the United States.

First established in 1774, Catoctin Furnace played a crucial role in American history. For more than 125 years it manufactured iron used to produce household tools and Franklin stoves for the growing country. It also produced historically important arms and ammunition, including the bombshells fired by George Washington’s army in defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown. The role of Catoctin Furnace in the industrial development of Maryland and the country as a whole is well known. What is much less well known is that the majority of the 18th and early 19th century workers at the furnace were enslaved African Americans. While many of these individuals are buried in the Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery, their visibility in historical interpretations of the furnace and early industrial America has thus far been minimal. Though the cemetery is privately owned, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the site and making known its important history. Photo courtesy of Visit Frederick

Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail: Open daily during park hours. Enjoy a socially distanced self-guided tour on our new trail. The trail begins in Cunningham Falls State Park at the ruins of the historic Catoctin Furnace and leads to an overlook near the African American cemetery. Wayside panels explain the ironmaking process, explore Catoctin Furnace’s historic buildings, and tell the story of the workers—both African American and European American—who lived and worked in the furnace and village.

The trail is an unpaved, smooth, ADA-style path that is approximately half a mile long with two viewing platforms and three wooden benches.

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