DAY 763

  Near Freedom Falls (Canonball Falls) is an old Iron Furnace.  Well preserved, this furnace is a treasure trove of history!  It is known by the locals and the internet community as Rockland Furnace.

© Kyle Yates Photography, 2014

© Kyle Yates Photography, 2014

© Kyle Yates Photography

  Built in 1832 by Andrew McCaslin, the abandon Rockland Iron Blast Furnace is still very intact. We are looking at a very rare image, looking out and through the blast furnace. The walls of the furnace have melted rock from years of iron work. The top is slightly caving in from the 182+ years of Western Pennsylvania weather. It is very tight in the opening, but you can get one person in at a time. I had my #Canon6D with me with a fish eye (8mm) lens. 

  More on McCaslin from the book History of Venango County

"MCCASLIN was a man of influence in county affairs. He was elected sheriff in 1832, removed to Franklin, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of iron. His house was a small log building, to which a frame and addition was made prior to 1834. It occupied the site of Flynn Brothers' woolen mill."  The Furnace was in operation until around 1854. It is situated just below Freedom Falls on Shulls Run in Rockland Township, Venango County.



    The Rockland Iron Furnace is one of the best preserved furnaces anywhere. The inner cupola is intact and you can crawl directly into the liner. This permits a complete view of the interior of the stack. There is a single tuyere on the LH side of the furnace and the access into the furnace can be clearly seen.
   The furnace was powered by a waterwheel. This site has one of the most complete mill races ever encountered. A small sub channel diverted water from the stream to a rock lined entrance channel. This in turn feeds a main mill race. The sub race is about 12 foot by 2-1/2 feet wide and 4-5 feet deep. The main race is 30 feet long and 3 feet wide. It starts out 5 feet deep and tapers to the wheel pit.
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