The Iron Foundry and the Gilded Age The iron foundry industry moved into a time of extensive expansion as iron was introduced into the growing construction and transportation industries. What came to be called the “Gilded Age” of American history was a time of reconstruction of the war-ravaged East and exploration of the frontiers of
The Rise of the Early Republic Iron Foundry In the late 1700s, a man named Benjamin Longstreth settled along the French Creek near the little village of Manavon. He renovated an old grist mill and added a small dam across the creek to establish a foundry there In 1790 he officially opened the French Creek
A Revolution in Iron Foundries After the Revolutionary War a second “revolution” was awaiting the US iron foundry industry. Until the early 1800s, iron foundries used charcoal exclusively to heat the vats of molten iron. While other parts of the world were looking for other sources of fuel to replace wood, the United States had
Early Iron Foundry History in the US The history of the iron foundry has always been one of the past pushing forward into the future, in a quest for innovation and efficiency. Here at Willman, we understand that journey. Plentiful Resources and Puritan Industry As with many things related to our industry, the American iron
