Path Valley Historical Society
Path Valley has history worthy of preservation
Nestled between the Kittatinny and Blue Mountains in south central Pennsylvania, Path Valley is rich with small town history. Rich with fertile land, abundant water sources, and wild game, Path Valley was home to the Tuscarora American Indians. The name “Path Valley” originated from the path between the mountains, called the Tuscarora Path, with access to the valley from the north and south. Modern Route 75 is reminiscent of the path through the valley traveled by the Tuscorara American Indians. While pioneers and settlers began arriving in the early 1700’s, Path Valley was officially settled in 1763. The majority of settlers came from Europe. German, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch settlers arrived by ship and traversed through dense forests and rolling hills to arrive here. The 257 year old history of Path Valley can still be experienced through the stories of families that have lived here for generations. Iron furnaces, relics of the Pennsylvania Railroad and turnpike endeavors, churches, and forts still remind us of how Path Valley came to be the quaint rural town we cherish today.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Carrick Furnace
I'
There is an historical landmark located in Path Valley, Franklin County, PA that many residents do not realize even exists, named the CARRICK FURNACE. This historic iron ore furnace stack, is located on PA Route 75 North, near Fort Loudon, in Metal Township, near Cowans Gap State Park and not far off of Route 30/the Historic Lincoln Highway.
The furnace was built about 1828, by General Samuel Dunn, and measures 30 feet square at the base, is 30 feet high, and sits on an acre lot. The Carrick Furnace has it’s original 1879 Peter L. Weimer steam powered blowing engine, the charging ramp, boilers for the steam engine, the engine house, and cast house foundations. The Peter L. Weimer Blast Furnace is the only one of it’s kind surviving in the State of PA and believed to be the only one surviving in the entire nation. The Carrick Furnace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania, and is federally listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Furnace operations were suspended in 1837, the property sold in 1843, then leased in 1850, to Witherow and Walker. The furnace was converted in 1879 to a Weimer hot blast with the installation of the steam powered blowing engine, made in Lebanon, PA.
The furnace went out of blast in 1884, and was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society-Kittochtinny, in 1935. On February 6th, 2020, the Carrick Furnace was purchased for $1.00 by the Path Valley Historical Society, a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation, operating and existing under the laws of PA.
After 85 years of minimal restoration, the Path Valley Historical Society Board Members immediately saw the need for financial assistance to bring the historical landmark back to it’s original status, thereby applying to and receiving an Impact Grant for $50,000.00 from Franklin County in early 2023 that was to be dispersed in increments.
Tony Robbins, a Mason by trade, and Gary McGee, Vice President of the Path Valley Historical Society, began work on the furnace in September 2023, not foreseeing the work load that would be involved to re-establish the landmark which would have probably become a total devastation in another five year timeframe. Hours became days, and days became months of working in frigid temperatures, then extreme heat, as Robbins and McGee orchestrated the scheduling of work needed to bring the furnace back to life.
Funds from the Grant were used for the Mason’s work hours while labor by McGee and others was totally volunteer. To this date we have purchased and used approximately 247 bags of mortar and 29 tons of sand with costs being covered by the Grant.
As the work has progressed for over two years, 80% of the restoration is complete, however the $50,000.00 Grant is also nearing depletion, which will put the continuation of the progress in jeopardy without additional funding.
The Path Valley Historical Society is requesting support for the continued renovation of the Carrick Furnace through sponsorship from individuals and businesses. It would be a shame to get this far into restoration and not be able to finish it completely. The Path Valley Historical Society recognizes it is truly an honor to have this piece of history right here in Franklin County.