History of Springfield Furnace

The Springfield Furnace was built in a gorge formed from glacial activity 10 to 12 thousand years ago, with its energy supplied by the constant flow of the Springfield Waterfall. The furnace holds significance as Mercer County’s first iron furnace. Additionally, the property’s historical value is tied to the furnace being powered by a water wheel, a unique byproduct of it being built in the early 19th century, whereas most furnaces afterwards favored steam power.

Much of the history of the Springfield Furnace remains a mystery, which has only further intrigued experts in the area for decades. Some of its earliest history can be traced to the mid-1840s, where William Scollard had purchased the furnace and became its Iron Master. The Scollard family owned the property for approximately 100 years, and with few owners since, it stayed in relatively undisturbed condition.

In 1979, John R. White, Ph.D. from Youngstown University was tasked by Mercer County Pennsylvania Historical Society to research the Springfield Furnace. With initial findings promising, in 2007, White was given permission by the property’s owner, Larry Bruno of Bruno FineJewelers, to perform an archaeological dig where more secrets of the furnace opened up.

The dig was fruitful, with the uncovered overburden revealing clues of its history. It became a common occurrence to hear an excited yell of “Artifact!” from the team members, who were finding many iron objects such as tools, nails, billet, spikes and casting floor shovels in various conditions. A question mark on the property’s history arose when remnants of an original furnace were discovered, intentionally buried beneath what appeared to be man-made debris. Theories suggest that this furnace was cannibalized for its sandstone, which was a common practice at the time.

Another fascinating mystery of this property was uncovered when a cornerstone of the furnace was discovered, inscribed with the following:

AD 1837

WM

& SG

It has been speculated that these initials could belong to President William McKinley’s father, who had been reported to once own the furnace. Regardless of its origins, the Mercy County furnaces are proud reminders of the significant role they played in the early growth of the iron and steel industry in Western Pennsylvania. The crew carries on today, hoping to shed light on its secrets and reveal them to the community.