Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site: Cultural Landscape Report, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, National Park Service

KFS Cultural Resources Group, Contractor; Menke and Menke, Contractor

This Cultural Landscape Report describes the historic evolution of Hopewell Furnace and delineates the character-defining features of the historic landscape through identification, documentation, analysis, and evaluation. The report also provides recommendations for future research and the preservation treatment of the historic landscape. The site’s evolution was compiled through the use of primary and secondary documentation. Historic photographs, plans, and drawings provided useful information on landscape elements existing after 1880 especially when used in combination with the written record and oral interview transcripts. Data relating to elements dating from the late 186s through the 1880s relied heavily on oral interview transcripts of former employees and residents as well as the written record. The written record and second or third hand oral interview transcripts were relied upon for elements dating from before the 1860s. Information regarding landscape elements dating from all periods relied heavily on historical research conducted during the 193s and 1950s by National Park Service historians Roy Edgar Appleman and Russel A. Apple. Historic structure reports and archeological reports prepared by consultants and park service personnel have provided additional information regarding the site. Extensive site investigations were undertaken at Hopewell in addition to conducting documentary research of the historic landscape. During field visits, conducted throughout the seasons, team members inventoried and photographed the various characteristics on the 848 acre site and its environs. Because prior research focused on the village core area, only a few existing maps extended beyond this area, and these tended to be sketchy and incomplete. In order to balance the treatment of outlying and core elements, the team had to be inventive with extant materials. Dr. Robert Martin and his students from Kutztown University made available some GIS mapping of the site; however, this once again was limited to a small portion of the site. The team made extensive use of twentieth century aerial photographs, numerous site visits during the fall of 1994 and spring of 1995, and a geographical positioning system unit to accurately locate site elements. Site elements were located on 100 and 400 scale mylar plans and then transferred to AutoCAD Release 12 electronic mapping (upgraded to AutoCAD Release 13). Plotted plans focused upon the core elements (100 scale) and overall site (400 scale). Evaluation of the integrity of the historic character of the site was made using procedures presented primarily in National Register Bulletin 30 Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Rural Historic Landscapes and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Landscapes. Following documentation of the site’s evolution an analysis was conducted with respect to the site’s existing conditions. The team re-photographed many historic views to better study landscape changes over time. Once inventoried and mapped, landscape components were evaluated in order to determine patterning and historic significance. From this information cultural landscape character areas and management zones were delineated.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site: Cultural Landscape Report, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, National Park Service

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