Pine Grove Iron Works, historic site of iron works in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Pine Grove Iron Works is a historic iron furnace site in Cumberland County that spans roughly 188 acres. The location includes the foundations of the furnace, several standing buildings, old water channels, and limestone quarries that once fed the production process.
Founded in 1764, the works initially produced stoves, fireplace backs, and kettles. Under the Ege family ownership in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the operation expanded to include a forge and eventually began making railroad parts. Iron production ceased in 1895 after more than 130 years of operation.
The site was the heart of a village that grew around the iron furnace. Workers and families built homes, a church, a school, and shops nearby, creating a tight-knit community whose daily life revolved around the rhythm of iron production.
The site is an outdoor location that requires comfortable walking shoes and drinking water during your visit. It is part of a state park with marked trails, signs, and guided tours that explain how the furnace operated in earlier times.
Prominent financier Jay Cooke purchased the iron works in 1864 and used it to help finance the American Civil War. The site thus connects individual enterprise with pivotal moments in American history.
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