For three evenings in December, Historic Joanna Furnace glows with the warmth of a 19th century Christmas season.
Friday through Sunday, Dec. 5 to 7 from 5 to 9 p.m., visitors will experience Joanna Furnace in a new light. Thousands of luminaries light the walkways throughout the furnace complex; flood lights gently illuminate the 217-year-old iron furnace complex; bonfires mark gathering places for warmth and for the old traditional community festivities of caroling, storytelling and meeting Kris Kringle.
The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association provides a variety of holiday foods: sausage sandwiches, hot dogs, pork and sauerkraut & mashed potatoes, soups, chili, and French fries, as well as hot chocolate, hot mulled cider or coffee.
The Christmas Craft Market has more than 30 vendors in the outdoor Christmas Market and in the heated tent offering wider selection: hand carved Santas, redware pottery, hand painted & pressed flower Christmas ornaments, electric candles, Alpaca fiber items, hand-woven linens & scarves, jewelry & jewelry boxes, antiques, baked goods, cakes, cookies & candy, September Farm Cheese, fresh roasted nuts, kettle corn and many other holiday home decor and gift items
In this year’s Gift Basket Raffle, 12 gift baskets with a combined value of over $3,000 have been donated by local businesses. Also, visitors can enter the Christmas Tree Raffle for chances to win a fresh cut Christmas tree for only $2.
Ongoing historic complex lantern lighted tours begin at 6 pm at the small bonfire in the Christmas Craft Market. Visitors will tour the Furnace complex and learn about the Office/Store, Blacksmith Shop, Blowing Engine House, Casting House, Charcoal Barn and Joanna Furnace herself. Tours are free to the public.
Three rooms of the stately mansion, home to the ironmaster, Levi Bull Smith, his Wife Emily Badger Smith and family in 1864 will be recreated in the Mule Stable.
In the mansion kitchen, the Ironmaster’s family will bake cakes, pies and baskets of cookies for the holiday celebration. Sample cookies made by Joanna Furnace volunteers and additional cookies donated by Pepperidge Farm and Shady Maple Farm Market. An actual Joanna Furnace 10-plate stove will also be on display.
The family will talk to visitors about life on the Joanna Furnace Iron Plantation, current politics (the reelection of President Lincoln who was not popular in Berks County) and the ongoing Civil War.
Each year, as was the 19th century custom, it was tradition that a 15′ cedar tree would decorate the Ironmaster’s mansion. Visitors will be in awe of the grandeur of the Smith’s Christmas tree for 1864. They will also learn about all the handmade ornaments that decorate the tree.
Joanna Furnace Carolers will entertain with traditional Christmas songs at 6 and 7:30 pm and happen at Bull’s Stage.
And as usually happens at this event, the uninvited switch-carrying Belsnickle is sure to be present at the main bonfire and will pass out treats to the “good” boys and girls. Bad boys and girls, beware!
Children of all ages will be enthralled by the Antique & Vintage Train Display in the Mechanical Technology Building, Bay 6. To complete the historic interpretation of early technology, the 19th century line shaft will be operating actual old-time manufacturing machinery.
Enjoy old fashioned wagon rides, for a small fee, through luminary pathways.
Admission is charged, children 12 & under are free. Parking is free.
Joanna Furnace is three miles north of Morgantown off Route 10. Enter on Furnace Road. Parking available on site and along Furnace Road. A safely lighted, easily accessible parking area has been added along Furnace Road. For safety, avoid parking along route 10.
Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a non-profit organization. Net event proceeds support education, research and restoration of this 18th & 19th century charcoal-fueled iron furnace. Visit www.haycreek.org, Hay Creek Valley Historical Association on Facebook or call 610-286-0388.