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During a period of blast, the iron and slag were tapped off on the average of twice a day. The “Furnace Man” would use a long iron rod to break open the clay door in the hearth, thus allowing the molten iron to flow out onto the casting floor. (The slag was extracted by a similar process but through a clay door above the level of the molten iron.) True pig iron formed when molten iron flowed from the furnace into a casting bed made of sand sculpted to allow the liquid to follow a main trench (the “sow”) and then feed into numerous side gutters (the “pigs”). The casting of other items such as pots, pans, skillets, kettles, and stove parts were done using sand molds in the casting shed. Many furnaces also included a forge at which the pig iron was further refined through heating and hammering into bar iron. This bar iron became the source metal from which a blacksmith might fashion wagon tires, horseshoes, hinges, nails, and tools. All told, over a dozen skilled and unskilled laborers, including fillers, furnace men, casting men, a wheelwright, a blacksmith, and sundry other workers, were required to operate a single furnace.
Below is a listing of blacksmiths appearing in various years of Piney Township.
Anderson, Francis P.—Piney 1850-1870. Age 58 in 1850. A/K/A Frank and F.P. Anderson Eisenhuth, David — Piney 1870 Eisenhuth, J. 1877. Source: AJ Davis, 1877 Eisenhuth, Philip — Piney 1870. Retired in 1880. Eisenhuth, R.—Piney 1877. Source: AJ Davis, 1877 Fox, Alexander — Piney 1860 Hamilton, Sylvenus—Piney 1860 Jones, John — Curllsville 1850. Jones, Samuel P.—Curllsville 1850 Jones, Simpson T. — Piney 1860 (listed as Sims Jones in Clarion Co centennial publication) Keller, Samuel—Piney 1850 Kesner, Michael — Piney 1850 Lane, Daniel —Piney 1850 Lane, John — Piney 1850 Low, Daniel C. — Piney 1870 Lowe, David E. — Sligo Borough 1910. Resided on Penn St. Lowe, William H. — Sligo Borough 1910. Resided on Penn St. Nuel, James — Piney 1880. Name could be Newell. Sarvey, Daniel — Piney 1880 Shaw, Alvin — Sligo Borough 1910. Resided on Bald Eagle St. Shaw, James A. — Sligo Borough 1930. Silvis, Edward — Sligo Borough 1910-1930. Resided on Front St. A/K/A Silves/Silvis Sylves, John — Piney 1870 Winger, David — Piney 1860
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Blacksmithing |
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HISTORY 1887 Toby’s 67th anniv. Of 4th of July with Fox Hunt Clarion Co. Historical Society (Facebook)
INDUSTRY
HISTORIC MAPS Sligo Boro [1877 Atlas] Churchville [1877 Atlas] Geological Description of Clarion Co. [1885]
SCHOOLS
NEWS (HISTORIC)
NEWS (CURRENT)
RESIDENTS Censuses & Historic Directories News 1869; 1877-1893
Clubs/Organizations Civil Conservation Camp1930’s]
UTILITIES & SERVICES
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