Article ID: CBB500435814

From Forest and Mine to Foundry and Cannons: An Archaeological Study of the Blast Furnace at the West Point Foundry (2009)

unapi

T. Arron Kotlensky (Author)


IA. The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology
Volume: 35
Issue: 1/2
Pages: 49-72


Publication Date: 2009
Edition Details: THEME ISSUE: WEST POINT FOUNDRY
Language: English

The West Point Foundry Association established a charcoal blast furnace at Cold Spring, New York, in 1827 to make pig iron for the foundry. Owners integrated the furnace within the foundry layout to take advantage of the existing property and waterpower system, making it unique among period blast furnaces. To establish a history of the furnace and surrounding site, researchers from Michigan Technological University conducted investigations of the West Point Foundry blast urnace site between 2004 and 2006 through histoncal background research, archaeological site excavation and documentation, and archaeo-metallurgical analysis of pig iron samples. Results allowed researchers to outline the history of the site and more fully understand the integration of the furnace within the foundry. Further research provided insight into the quality of pig iron produced at the furnace and helped place the success and subsequent closure of the furnace within evolving trends in the technology and organization of antebellum pig iron production. Research demonstrated that managers and tradesmen consistently produced relatively high-grade pig iron that the foundry could use in the production of ordnance and other castings. However, the comparative high cost of making pig iron in Cold Spnng motivated owners to cease production after 1844 in favor of purchasing pig iron from less costly external sources, while continuing to rely on production from regional furnaces under their management. [2014 Vogel Prize winner]

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Associated with

Article Patrick E. Martin (2009) Industrial Archaeology at the West Point Foundry. IA. The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology (pp. 5-8). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB500435814/

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Authors & Contributors
Gordon, Robert B.
Walton, Steven A.
Ruminski, Clayton J.
Paul White
Gordon C. Pollard
Dan Trepal
Concepts
Industrial archaeology
Iron and iron industry
Iron Foundries
Excavations (archaeology)
Charcoal and charcoal industry
Blast furnaces
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
21st century
18th century
Places
United States
New York (U.S.)
Connecticut (U.S.)
Carp River
New Iberia, LA
Youngstown, OH
Institutions
West Point Foundry
Adirondack Iron and Steel Company
United States Navy
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