In the early 1800s southeastern Pennsylvania was one of the leading iron production areas in the nation.
On March 15 a local hydro-geologist, Ron Sloto, of Saint Peters in Chester County, will present a program on early iron mining in the Tri-County area of Berks, Chester, Lancaster counties. The free program, which is part of the informational programing of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association, will take place Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace and is open to the public.
Sloto will detail the Jones Mine which served a number of furnaces in the area. The Jones Mine was located a mile or so northeast of Twin Valley High School. A former professional hydro-geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, historian and writer, Sloto will reveal the significance, quality and prevalence of iron in the area.
In 2009, he published “Mines and Minerals of Chester County,” which is a combination of the mining history and mineralogy of Chester County. He is currently working on a similar effort for Berks County, which will include the history and mineralogy of the Jones mine.
This locale was extremely important in the development of the early U.S. iron industry. This was due to the availability of the necessary elements to support this heavy industry, quality iron ore, limestone, almost limitless woodland for charcoal, robust water power and a strong workforce.
The historic informational program is open, free to the community, and will be held in the Historic Joanna Furnace mule stable meeting area. Joanna Furnace is located three miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Furnace Road off PA Route 10. For more information, visit www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388.
Mark Zerr is Executive Director for Joanna Furnace and the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association.
