Other names Clarion Furnace was known by:
Bear & Myers Furnace;
Clarion Furnace, Venango Co. (ca.1833)
Meyer's Furnace;
Myer's Furnace;
Hetherington's Furnace.

From "Iron Manufacturer's Guide," 1859.
Clarion Cold-blast Charcoal Furnace,  one and a quarter miles north west of Clarion, owned by Nelson Hetherington of Clarion, stands on the Clarion River, wasbiuilt in 1848, 8 feet across the bosh by 30 high, and had been abandoned for want of ore, timber being abundant, since 1850. (Lesley,1859:102)

From "History of Clarion County" 1887.
Clarion Furnace.  In 1828 Christian Myers, of Lancaster, then half owner of the Bear-Carpenter-Miller purpart of the Lancaster Company's purchase, including a slice of Clarion and the greater part of Paint townships; and his partner, Henry Bear, came to this county with the intention of developing the mineral resources of their property. The natives were very distrustful of the strangers, and having no credit with the farmers, they were sometimes reduced to desperate straits for provisions. Judge Myers wrote home, with a melancholy account of the fare: "Bones cooked for soup, and then ground up and cooked over." After many difficulties Clarion furnace was erected on Little Toby, near its mouth; the spot is now known as Penn Mills. This was the pioneer stack of Clarion county.

Clarion Furnace, cold blast, on the Clarion River, a little west of the mouth of Little Toby, built in 1829; thirty feet high by eight feet bosh; owners Henry Bear and Christian Myers, afterward Myers alone, who in 185l assigned to Nelson Hetherington. Produced about 1,300 tons a year. Abandoned in 1852 on account of difficulty of reaching ore and financial considerations.

The pigs were transported to Pittsburgh in flat boats, sided up; they were somewhat smaller than the present boats, and generally held from seventy-five to one hundred tons. The lower bridge at Clarion was one of the chief loading places; here Clarion, Lucinda, Shippenville, Washington, and Martha furnaces brought their iron for transportation; it was the scene of much life and bustle, for often one hundred men were at work together, loading the boats; those were halcyon days! (Davis,1887:113,116)

Clarion Furnace. Located on the Clarion River, just west of the mouth of Little Toby Creek.  Stack 30 feet high; base 24 feet square, 8 foot bosh.  Cold Blast.  Erected 1828 by Henry Bear and Christian Myers.  Designed by Bear.  Myers became sole owner until 1851, after which he assigned to Nelson Hetherington, his son-in-law. Closed 1852 because of financial problems.  Production 1847 1,200 tons. (Caldwell,1877:  )

From: "A Guide to the Old Stone Blast Furnace in Western Pennsylvania" 1966.
Clarion Furnace.  Was built on Toby Creek about 1/2 mile from the Clarion River in 1828 and was abandoned in 1852.  It was the first furnace constructed in Clarion County. Christian Meyers was the builder and his agent, Henry Bear,was an expert ironmaster.  The stack was 32 feet high with an 8 foot bosh.  All other furnaces in the county were patterned after the Clarion Furnace.  It was a cold blast, water powered charcoal furnace with one tuyere. (Sharp & Thomas,1966:32)

The site of Clarion Furnace is located in State Game Lands No. 72.  Nothing remains of the Clarion Furnace stack, except a few stones and a small amount of slag on the creek bank.
(Sharp & Thomas,1966:32)

The site of Clarion Furnace probably contains archaeological remains that are not visible.  Flooding from the Clarion River and strip mining waste more than likely has slited over many of the remains.

RETURN to Clarion County Iron Furnace Index

RETURN to Pennsylvania Iron Furnace Sourcebook Index