Hot times / Catoctin Furnace

  Catoctin, Maryland, United States
Saturday, June 21, 2008

Since the round finished early and I drove 1.5 hours to get here, I decided to explore the area.  Driving on Maryland Rt#806, I was looking for anything which might be interesting.  I passed a billboard for the Cozy Inn which advertised a Camp David Museum.  By the time I read the board I was already pass the inn/restaurant/museum...maybe next time.  Also along MD 806, I found the Catoctin Wild Animal Preserve.  I do not know what kind of animals are caged there, but based on all the cars in the parking lot and roadside, it appeared to be a popular place.  I was not interested in viewing the wild animals of Maryland, so I drove on.

"Isabella"

I stopped to see the remains of one of the Catoctin Furnaces.  Apparently during the 18th and 19th Century, this area was an industrial hotbed of activity.  Because of it's location near some iron deposits, woodland and running stream, Catoctin was ideal place for iron production.  In it's heyday there were three operational furnace which bellowed smoke and heat throughout the village.  "Isabella" (yes they actually named the furnace stack) was in relatively good condition.  Located next to the furnace, was a historical trail with informational placards on the furnace operations.  The first station was the remains of the Iron-master's house with 3 of the walls still standing. 

Ironmaster's house

There was a wooden walkway which kept people from touching the walls.

Next on the trail was an iron bowstring arch bridge crossing the Little Hunting Creek.  The creek was dammed and the water redirected to power a waterwheel which pumped the furnace's bellows.  I noticed that the information placards were numbered but the number was counting down from 7 (Isabella).  Somehow I am walking the trial backwards.  The rest of the stations was ho-hum.  The slag heap looks like a pile of rocks...the

Bowstring arch bridge

new growth forest looks like a bunch of trees.  I kept walking the trail to see where the starting point was located.  The end/starting point was a little park with picnic tables.  There were several people enjoying the nice afternoon and wading in the creek.  I had enough fun...walked back to "Isabella" & the car and headed back to DC. 

Little Hunting Creek