Historic Structures Report, Part I: Charcoal Kiln Ruins
Ronsheim RD and Cotter JL. 1961. Historic Structures Report, Part I: Charcoal Kiln Ruins. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American industrial landscape from natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation. Operating from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other "iron plantations" laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant. The park's 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology and lifestyle of our growing nation. This report concerns the Charcoal Kiln Ruins at Hopewell Furnace site. It is primarily concerned with questions of original use and current interpretation. The historian and archeologist are agreed that the charcoal kilns were probably post 1840 and that they were not used for any extensive period of time. However, many visitors are less familiar with the historic open hearth method of charcoal manufacture than with the charcoal kiln of brick or stone such as are exhibited at Fayette State Park, Michigan, at the James Foundation furnace in Missouri and in several states. It is concluded, then, that there would seem to be some interpretive advantages in interpreting both methods side by side. We would then be enabled to explain the basic principles which are the same in either method while de-emphasizing the late period kilns. The deemphasis would be done in the trailside exhibits and by leaving the kilns as foundations and ruins.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Ronsheim, Robert; Cotter, John
- Date of Issue
- 1961
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- HOFU , NER
- Keywords
- blacksmith, charcoal, charcoal kiln, industrialism, iron making, restoration
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000690: Charcoal Kiln Ruin