Fascinated by 19th-century history? Interested in early technology, crafts, cooking, or how about the art of ironmaking? Enjoy working with visitors, children and school groups? The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and the Joanna Furnace Ironworks are now recruiting friendly persons who are interested in volunteering to be historical site tour guides or who just want to learn a little about an Early American Craft from our community.

Open enrollment for our 2021 series begins now. Each of these classes brings an aspect of the Joanna Furnace community story to life. These engaging classes are for learners 16 years and up.

• Class sizes are capped so register early to ensure your participation.
• Registration deadline is one week before the scheduled class.
• See registration form.
• Reservations are required.
• Space is limited, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Most classes will be held outdoors, under cover, instilling COVID-19 requirements of masks and social distancing.

These classes are designed for anyone with either a casual interest in history or those looking to become part of the Historic Joanna Furnace Interpretation Team and be a Tour Guides or for those who are looking for a new hobby or craft.

Each year over 30,000 people visit Joanna Furnace. The education programs reach over 2,000 students from Berks, Chester and Lancaster Counties. Since 1980, over 1.1 million guests have visited Joanna Furnace.

The classes offered in 2021 are as follows:

History of Joanna Furnace TUESDAY, APRIL 13 – 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Presenter: Gary Kurtz

Designed for volunteers to interact with the general public during events and welcome them to the Joanna Furnace Site. The class includes watching and discussing the History of Joanna Furnace video and reviewing of a training guide that will assist you at events. The goal is to have a general understanding of the significance of the Joanna Furnace site and to be able to communicate with guests from that perspective.

Gary Kurtz has been an active member of the HCVHA. He is a Board Member and is involved in several leadership roles including restoration and history. One of his specialized areas of expertise is in outdoor oven homemade bread making. Gary is a talented educator and well-rounded historic interpreter.

Letters of a Daughter’s Devotion Preserved for Centuries TUESDAY, APRIL 20 – 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Presenter: Juliana Flora

Juliana Flora, the great-great-granddaughter of the last Joanna Furnace Ironmaster, will share letters written in the 1880’s by her great-great- grandmother Ella Jane Grubb Smith. Juliana will share letters written in the 1860’s & 1870’s about the Joanna Furnace.

Juliana Flora is the HCVHA President and has a wide-ranging genealogical collection of her family memorabilia and enjoys sharing the history with the public.

Learn to be a Joanna Furnace Tour Guide TUESDAY, APRIL 27 – 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Presenter: Joanna Furnace Interpreters

Designed for volunteers to interact with the general public during events and welcome them to the Joanna Furnace Site. The class focuses on hands-on training inside the historic Joanna Furnace Buildings. Various Joanna Furnace Interpreters will discuss their personal perspectives on how they approach interpretation in a building. Volunteer garb will also be reviewed at the class. The goal is to have a general understanding of the significance of the Joanna Furnace site and to be able to communicate with guests from that perspective.

19^th Century Metal Casting—hands-on SATURDAY MAY 1 – 10 am to 12 pm
Presenter : Jack Woods

We will provide the basic information required to make a sand mold by using a pattern. The mold cavity made will then be filled with molten aluminum. If we’ve done a good job of training you, you will have a casting to take home with you! Also discussed during the class will be information about the (Joanna) Furnace, Casting House, metal casting products (pig iron, 10-plate stoves, hollowware, etc.) and procedures. Also: Iron ore, limestone, charcoal and slag will be discussed.

Jack Woods has been a member the HCVHA for 8 years. He is a former educator who specialized in Tech Education. After leaving public education, he worked for a rescue mission and for the Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad. While at the railroad, one of his functions was working to renovate a steam locomotive and passenger coach. When Jack is at Joanna Furnace, he is an educator and interpreter working in the casting house. There he and his team demonstrate the process of mold making and casting, as it was done at the 19th century Joanna Furnace. He is one of the HCVHA volunteers who designed and created the casting house interpretation. He has also published articles in Industrial Arts Education, the NY State Canal Society, and the HCVHA Journal.

Basic of Watercolor – hands on SATURDAY, MAY 8 – 10 am to 1 pm
Instructor: Anna Carter

Anna Carter will be at the Furnace to teach watercolor painting. This will be a themed class, relating to the time period of the furnace. The class will last approximately 3 hours. This is a beginner class and no experience is needed. The class is recommended for ages 13 and up.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Paint brushes, watercolor paper, and watercolor paints. If you do not have your own, you may borrow Anna’s. A light snack will be provided.

Open Fire Cooking —hands-on SATURDAY, MAY 15 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Barbara Esterly

Join Barbara Esterly, as she shows you the basic concepts of open fire cooking, which will be transferrable to open hearth cooking. You will do hands on preparation of foods and sample your creations. The flavor of food cooked over an open fire is truly unique. You will discuss fire safety principles, learn about various cooking tools, pots and utensils of the 18th and 19th centuries. We will make a traditional stew/soup, a pie, mush and sausage and apples cooked in cider. This class is for ages 16 yrs old and up.

Supplies you will need to bring along: You may bring a lunch or light snack along, although you will more than likely be eating what you make! Yum!

Barbara Esterly, has been an active volunteer at the Furnace. One of her specialized areas of expertise is in outdoor open fire cooking and hearth cooking. Barb is a talented educator and well-rounded historic interpreter.

Bake Oven Demonstrating —hands-on SATURDAY, MAY 22 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Gary Kurtz

Masonry ovens have been built in American homes since the first colonists landed in New England. These brick ovens were used to bake bread, pies and cookies. Although very few of these ovens exist today, the historic Joanna Furnace site houses two reproduction ovens that are used for interpretation at events and program. During this class participants will learn how to “fire-up” and “maintain” a stove for baking; plus, will mix their own bread and pie to be baked in the oven. A bag lunch will be provided for the participants on this day.

Gary Kurtz has been an active member of the HCVHA. He is a Board Member and is involved in several leadership roles including restoration and history. One of his specialized areas of expertise is in outdoor oven homemade bread making. Gary is a talented educator and well-rounded historic interpreter.

Design Your Own Redware Plate – hands-on SATURDAY, JUNE 5 – 1 pm to 4 pm
Instructor: Andrew Loercher

Design your own redware plate. Andrew Loecher, potter from Lancaster County, and vendor at the Hay Creek Festival, will be offering a class for you to design your own plate. Andy will take your plates with him to fire, and they will be returned to you within 2 weeks. You will be contacted to set up a pick up date/time.

Supplies you will need to bring along: rolling pin, old newspaper, sturdy tin pie pan (not aluminum) and the picture or design you would like to put on your plate. (The more simple the picture, the easier the project)

Make A Wool Braided Rug – hands-on SATURDAY, JUNE 12 – 10 am to 3:30 pm
Instructor: Eileen Colligan

Eileen Colligan will be at the Joanna Furnace to teach us the basics of making our own wool braided rug. Cost is for 2 days, Day 1. Students will learn the basics of braiding a round rug. The morning class will be devoted to preparing the wool, review of tools, learning the T start, lacing and more. The afternoon session will be hands on. Participants should be able to create a small round rug (hot pad size) by the end of class. This rug can be enlarged on the participants own time to any size desired. Day 2. (Saturday, June 19 from 1pm – 4pm) The afternoon will be devoted to helping students and also demonstrating ways to end a braided rug. If you have any issues when you are working on your rug during the week, feel free to stop back and Eileen will gladly give you the guidance to help keep your rug on track.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Lunch or a snack, since this class will go over lunchtime. Participants should bring a small sewing kit and good scissors to class. Wool will be provided to practice and start the rug. Color and amount of wool provided is limited. (If participants chose to bring their own wool, it must be washed. Email the instructor before class to determine if the wool will work at nennie105@aol.com).

Make A Wool Penny Rug – hands-on SATURDAY, JUNE 19 – 10 am to 12 pm
Instructor: Eileen Colligan

Eileen Colligan will be at the Furnace to teach us how to make wool penny rugs. A small penny rug kit will be provided. Participants will be given a demonstration of how to create a Penny rug. Embroidery stitches typically found in Penny rugs will be taught. Individual help will be provided. Participants should be able to complete or nearly complete this rug in class.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Lunch or a snack, since this class could go over lunchtime. Participants should bring scissors to this class.

Make A Toothbrush Rug – hands-on SATURDAY, JULY 10 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Tammy Schaeffer

Tammy will show you how to make a toothbrush rug with an unusual tool and scrap material. This is a no sew rug and is made from any type of scrap material. We will provide the sewing tool, which is included in the price. The material for this rug is based off of color, not pattern. Bring any scraps you may have, tear them in 2” strips, fold in half and iron.

Supplies you will need to bring along: We will have some materials to select from, but you may bring your own. Lunch or a snack, since this class will go over lunchtime.

Make A Wooly Christmas Tree – hands-on SATURDAY, JULY 24 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Tammy Schaeffer

It‘s Christmas in July!! Tammy will be back at the Furnace to show you how to make your own Wooly Christmas Tree (based off the feather tree concept). These can be in any color for any holiday…not just Christmas.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Sharp snipping scissors, a ruler and lunch or a snack, since this class will go over lunchtime.

Make A Snowman Plaque – hands-on SATURDAY, JULY 31 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Beki Ziegler

It’s STILL Christmas in July!! Beki Ziegler will be here to show you how to paint and design a snowman from a pallet base.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Lunch or a snack, since this class will go over lunchtime. Beki will provide all the supplies.

Make A Round Basket with Wood Base – hands-on SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 – 9 am to 3 pm
Instructor: Mary Zeplin

Local weaver, Mary Zeplin, will be here to teach you how to make a round basket with a wooden base.

Supplies you will need to bring along: Lunch or a snack, since this class will go over lunchtime. Mary will provide all the supplies.

Make (6) Redware Ornaments – hands-on SATURDAY, AUGUST 21 – 1 pm to 4 pm
Instructor: Andrew Loercher

Andrew Loercher, will be back offering a class for you to design and create 6 Christmas ornaments. Andy will take your ornaments with him to fire, and they will be returned to you within 2 weeks. You will be contacted to set up a pick up date/time.

Supplies you will need to bring along: rolling pin, old newspaper, cookie cutters

These classes are for ALL skill levels!

Please come out and support the Furnace, while having some fun with friends!

To register click on the following link

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and education of America’s iron heritage. Net proceeds from this event support the restoration and educational projects of The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and Joanna Furnace, a historically significant 18th and 19th-century charcoal-fueled iron furnace. The Joanna Furnace site is located three miles north of Morgantown, along Route 10. For entrance turn at Furnace Road.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association Offers History Classes at Historic Joanna Furnace

Fascinated by 19^th-century history? Interested in early technology, crafts, cooking, or how about the art of ironmaking? Enjoy working with visitors, children and school groups? The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and the Joanna Furnace Ironworks are now recruiting friendly persons who are interested in volunteering to be historical site tour guides or who just want to learn a little about the history of our community.

As a volunteer Tour Guide, you will learn how to lead small groups of visitors through the 229-year-old iron furnace complex. Your job will be to communicate the breadth of life in a 19^th-century iron making community and introduce your group to the general history of our area. You will be taking the visitors back to a different place and time.

Each year over 30,000 people visit Joanna Furnace. The education programs reach over 2,000 students from Berks, Chester and Lancaster Counties. Since 1980, over 1.1 million guests have visited Joanna Furnace.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association invites interested persons to participate in one or all of our Joanna Furnace History Training Classes starting in March.   These classes will give basic, introductory level, information on assisting with tours at our upcoming fall festivals, public events and spring educational programs. 

The classes offered in 2020 are as follows:

History of Joanna Furnace — Tuesday, March 10^th – 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Designed for volunteers to interact with the general public during events and welcome them to the Joanna Furnace Site.   The class includes watching and discussing the History of Joanna Furnace video and reviewing of a training guide that will assist you at events.  The goal is to have a general understanding of the significance of the Joanna Furnace site and to be able to communicate with guests from that perspective.

My Childhood Memories of Growing up in the Joanna Furnace Ironmaking Community –Tuesday, March 17^th – 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Juliana Flora, the great-great-granddaughter of the last Joanna Furnace Ironmaster, will share letters written in the 1880’s by her great grandmother Daisy Smith Morris. Daisy recounts her life experiences and happenings as she was growing up at the Joanna Furnace Ironmaking Community.

Learn to be a Joanna Furnace Tour Guide — Tuesday, March 24^th – 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Designed for volunteers to interact with the general public during events and welcome them to the Joanna Furnace Site.   The class focuses on hands-on training inside the historic Joanna Furnace Buildings.  Various Joanna Furnace Interpreters will discuss their personal perspectives on how they approach interpretation in a building.  Volunteer garb will also be reviewed at the class.  The goal is to have a general understanding of the significance of the Joanna Furnace site and to be able to communicate with guests from that perspective.

 STAGING HISTORY: American Theater in the Time of Joanna Furnace –TUESDAY, APRIL 7^TH – 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Presenter Aileen Lynch McCulloch of Morgantown has spent her life using theater to educate and explore history, since her 12^th grade play A Time to Live (about time traveler) won an award for Outstanding Original One Act. In this one-and-a-half-hour presentation, McCulloch explores theater history in the time of Joanna Furnace, and the impact American theater has had on historical preservation.  A brief history of American Theater combines with a fun interactive finale using Joanna Furnace history to present a short original theater performance. With over 30 years of educational theater under her belt, McCulloch has brought interactive education reenactors to Winterthur Museum, The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and even the Philadelphia Art Museum, combining her love of theater and history to create memorable educational experiences in our region for over two decades. Her historical theater even garnered two Barrymore Award Nominations (and one win!) for unique theater collaborations!

19^th Century Photography – Daguerreotypes to Cabinet Cards — TUESDAY, APRIL 14^TH – 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Hay Creek members and Civil War relic collectors Janice and Tom Groves will offer this exciting program by sharing authentic photographs from the Civil War.  The presentation will focus on their extensive collection of Daguerreotypes and Cabinet Cards.  In addition, Janice will discuss the ladies’ clothing’s styles of the 1850’s & 1860’s as seen in the photographs.   The Grove’s passions for history will shine through as they speak and show a sample of their 3,000 antique photos. 

HISTORY ALIVE: Historic Reenactment and You          — TUESDAY, APRIL 28 – 7 PM TO 8:30 PM

Aileen Lynch McCulloch of Morgantown, shares the art of reenacting and how anyone can become an historical actor. In anticipation of new interactive theater activities coming to Hay Creek, this one-and-a-half-hour presentation will include a discussion about how members can become involved in reenactment right here at the Furnace. With over 30 years of educational theater under her belt, McCulloch has brought interactive education reenactors to Winterthur Museum, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and even the Philadelphia Art Museum, combining her love of theater and history to create memorable educational experiences in our region for over two decades. Her historical theater even garnered two Barrymore Award Nominations (and one win!) for unique theater collaborations.

Bake Oven Demonstrating —hands-on — Saturday, May 2^nd  – 9 am to 1 pm

Masonry ovens have been built in American homes since the first colonists landed in New England.  These brick ovens were used to bake bread, pies and cookies.  Although very few of these ovens exist today, the historic Joanna Furnace site houses two reproduction ovens that are used for interpretation at events and program.  During this class participants will learn how to “fire-up” and “maintain” a stove for baking; plus, will mix their own bread and pie to be baked in the oven. 

19^th Century Metal Casting—hands-on class — Saturday, MaY 2^ND  – 10 am to noon

We will provide the basic information required to make a sand mold – using a pattern. The mold cavity made by the pattern will then be filled with molten aluminum. If we’ve done a good job of training you, you will have a casting to take home with you!

You may be aware of some of the Furnace history presented at the Hay Creek Festivals, and if you plan to be a demonstrator at Joanna, any information you hear during these training sessions will be useful. Of course, the emphasis here will be on the Furnace, Casting House, and metal casting products and procedures. Also: Iron ore, limestone and charcoal; Furnace, Blowing engine power; Pig iron, molds/ingots, and products; Making a mold; patterns, flask, rammer, riddle; Finishing a casting; cut off gates, file, smooth. 

School of Soldier — Saturday, may 2^ND  – All Day

The PA 50^th & 69^th Civil War regiments will meet at Joanna Furnace for their annual training day where participants go over all safety aspects of the hobby including proper handling of the rifle, as well as proper rifle firing techniques. We also drill the troops, so they are ready to maneuver properly while fighting in the field.  All personal equipment is checked to make sure that each member is ready to take the field safely.   Guests are welcome to come out to Joanna Furnace on this day to ask questions and to sign up to be a part of this living history group.  THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR ATTENDING THIS ACTIVITY.

Class size is limited therefore RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED to attend each of these programs (excluding the School of Soldier activity).  For more information or to register please email Mark Zerr at mzerr@haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388.  Reservations must be made by March 9^th   Note:  A nominal fee will be charged to each participant to cover class materials.

Click here to download Spring Education Classes at Joanna Furnace

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and education of America’s iron heritage. Net proceeds from this event support the restoration and educational projects of The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and Joanna Furnace, a historically significant 18th and 19th-century charcoal-fueled iron furnace.   The Joanna Furnace site is located three miles north of Morgantown, along Route 10.  For entrance turn at Furnace Road.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association volunteers are gearing up for their annual spring Chicken Pot Pie and Chili sale at historic Joanna Furnace.    The sale will be taking place on Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 10 am to 5 pm.   Cost is $8.00 per quart.  Note:  All orders must be received by Saturday, March 21^st.

Orders can be made by printing and mailing the attached form or by calling 610-286-0388.  To order by credit card click the yellow donate button at www.haycreek.org and note your order in the comment section.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Funds generated from its programs support the restoration and preservation of the historic Joanna Furnace site.

Click here to download Chicken Pot Pie and Chili Sale Form

Dance a Jig and celebrate Irish Heritage at the Joanna Furnace Breakfast Buffet on Saturday, March 21^st!

“Receive the luck of the Irish, enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast and festive music…It’ll bring out the Irish in you”

MORGANTOWN, PA . . . The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is celebrating their Irish Heritage and the birth of the Iron master’s first child Clement Smith at the 13^th annual Irish Breakfast Buffet. The breakfast takes place at the historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works on Saturday, March 21^st from 7 am to 12 noon.

Not only were the Smith Ironmaking family descendants of Irish immigrants to the New World, but also were many of the furnace workers who emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine. Visitors are invited to come out to celebrate our heritage at the breakfast and to welcome the Ironmaster’s new child “Clemmy” by wearing the traditional Irish colors of green, white and orange.

This celebration of Irish legacy will feature standard Irish favorites of Pancakes, French toast, country sausage, homemade corned beef hash, bacon, scrapple, creamed chipped beef, scrambled eggs, country style potatoes, baked oatmeal, fruit, coffee, juice and more. The cost for the buffet: Adults $10 Children (5-11) $5, children under 5 FREE. Reservations are not required to attend.

Juliana Flora, the president of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association says, “This is a special year celebrating Clement’s birth (March 1870). The Smith’s first child, new beginnings and a celebration of the heritage that can be traced back to Ireland/Scotland in the 1500’s. The Smith’s original name was MacDonald, but was changed when arriving in the new world to reflect their blackSMITHing heritage.”

March also kicks off the beginning of the year for the organization when the general public can come out to Joanna Furnace to hear about the history of our community. At this time the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association offers educational training classes where individuals can learn to be a tour guide or take a history class to learn about our communities’ past. This year’s classes focus on learning about civil war photography, Victorian dancing, bake oven demonstrating, metal casting and the history of theater. Mark Zerr, Executive Director, states “As our organization continues to preserve the 26-acre historic site, we are always looking for new volunteers to join our team to assist at events and education programs. Whether new volunteers come on board to learn to be tour guides, help at our Thursday volunteer day, or just learn about our heritage we are an all-encompassing organization that welcomes the talents and knowledge from our community.”

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and education of America’s Iron Heritage. Net Proceeds from this event support the restoration and educational projects of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and Joanna Furnace. Anyone wishing to find more information about the 2020 events or educational programs at Joanna Furnace can visit the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association website at www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388. The Joanna Furnace site is located three miles north of Morgantown along route 10, for entrance turn at Furnace Road.

This Valentine’s Day, Fall in Love with Historic Joanna Furnace

Come celebrate the 13^th Annual Joanna Furnace Valentine’s Day Breakfast Buffet on Saturday, February 15, 2020! Give your sweetheart and loved ones the gift of live musical performances while indulging in a delectable all-you-can-eat buffet offering traditional country breakfast complemented by romantic delights such as our delicious Joanna Furnace chocolate covered strawberries and whipped hot chocolate.

Join us at Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works from 7 am – 12 pm and share fine food while listening to the romantic and festive acoustical stylings of Denver-based Phyllis Hummel, who has been performing for over 20 years throughout the Tri-County region, as we kick off the exciting 2020 exhibit and event calendar. This year’s calendar includes numerous opportunities to travel back in time and experience a taste of life in an 18^th and 19^th century iron-making community with three major annual festivals: Hay Creek Festival, Hay Creek Apple Festival, Christmas at Joanna. Our growing public school program, and numerous restoration projects provide more chances to explore and learn about this important historical site.

Menu to include: fresh country sausage, baked carved ham, scrapple, bacon, creamed chipped beef, scrambled eggs, pancakes, pancakes with chocolate chips French toast, hash browns, fruit sauce, and beverages.

“One hundred fifty years ago Joanna Furnace Ironmaster L. Heber Smith and wife Ella Jane were so very much in love.  In fact, in March of 1870 the newlywed couple were expecting the birth of their first child”, states Juliana Flora, Hay Creek Valley Historical Association President and Smith Family descendent.    “The excitement at that time still continues today through the passion of Hay Creek volunteers with their love to preserve the history of our community.  Volunteers work at keeping the Joanna Furnace property beautiful and maintained, lead school group tours, and educate the public about our local history at our Fall events.”

Reservations for the Valentine’s Breakfast Buffet are not required.   Admission for individual adults is $10.00, Children are encouraged; ages 5 – 11 are $5.00 and those under 5 eat free.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Net proceeds from this event support the educational programs and restoration of Joanna Furnace. This historically significant 18th and 19th-century charcoal-fueled iron furnace community is nestled in a valley just off Route 10 on Furnace Road—3 miles north of Morgantown, PA

For more information, visit the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association website at www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388.

Morgantown, PA . . .

The evenings of December 6—8, visitors to Joanna Furnace will be whisked away from the anticipation of their own Christmas season—back to the joyous celebration of the Christmas of 1869. Whether families come for unique holiday shopping, wonderful light holiday treats, to experience the candlelit 200-year-old furnace complex, to hear Christmas music, or even have the kids encounter the Belsnickel  . . . everyone is enthralled by the transformation of Joanna Furnace into a 19^th-century-holiday experience.

Christmas 1869 was a grand time for the ironmaster’s family and the residents of the Joanna Furnace community.  They celebrated the Holiday and gave thanks that the furnace was busy providing income to so many families. Additionally, this year, the ironmaster and his wife are celebrating their second Christmas together. Visitors of all ages will be able to experience that long-ago time and gain a new perspective on their holiday celebration.

Candlelight illuminates the entire furnace complex.
The historic site takes on an entirely new radiance — over one thousand glowing luminaries warmly light various furnace walkways. Visitors are encouraged to explore the furnace complex by following the clearly defined pathways. All aspects of this nighttime event set the stage for an unforgettable family experience. Visitors are urged to bring cameras.

Also, carefully placed lighting illuminates the historic buildings’ exteriors to give visitors a new perspective of the furnace complex. Inside, each building is illuminated by lamps or candles to recreate an 1890s atmosphere.

The Joanna furnace Mule Stable is transformed into the parlor of the Victorian mansion of Iron Master L. Heber Smith, his wife Ella Jane Grubb Smith and their family. As visitors enter the warm glowing parlor, the pleasant aroma of the freshly cut cedar Christmas Tree is a welcoming sensation.

In the parlor, Smith family members gather to prepare for a beautiful family Christmas celebration complete with Victorian dancing. Visitors can watch the festive holiday celebration or interact with family members to learn more about life in the iron furnace community and take part in the period dancing.

Outside, in front of the stage, the largest of the roaring bonfires becomes the focal point of the furnace community. Here all can warm up by the fire and enjoy Bonfire Performances on stage. Friday at 6:00 pm—enjoy a Twin Valley Bible Academy program, Saturday at 6:00 pm—High Point Baptist Church performs and at 7:30 pm —the Lukens Steel Brass Band will perform. On Sunday at 6:00 pm and again at 7:30 pm—Morgantown Community Church Men’s Choir will perform Christmas music.

Near the holiday bonfire, from time to time, the Belsnickel has been known to appear and delight visiting children.

Traditional wagon rides give visitors an alternative way to explore Joanna Furnace. Rides are $2 per person and occur weather permitting. The historic buildings will be open for visitors to explore on self-guided walking tours of the complex. Visitors can visit the Blacksmith Shop, Casting House and Office/Store.

Savor festival foods
The Hay Creek Historians are proud to provide guests with a variety of delicious holiday foods. Enjoy such homemade foods as sausage sandwiches; hot dogs; pork and sauerkraut & mashed potatoes; chicken strips, soups, chili; and French fries. Warm-up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, hot mulled cider or coffee.

Visitors can enter the Christmas Gift Basket Raffle. These baskets contain valuable items and certificates. All the baskets together contain over $2000 worth of gifts and gift certificates donated by the area business community.

The youngsters can visit the Kid’s Santa Craft Workshop and face painting inside one of the heated tents. The Morgantown Arts Center will be providing various holiday craft activities for children in this workshop.

The Christmas Craft Market provides a showcase for visitors to shop for holiday gifts and home decorating items. Selected items available for purchase from the handpicked vendors include things such as baked goods and cheese; hand blown glass ornaments and assorted holiday items; Handwoven and quilted items;  hand-painted wood Items; hand-made soaps.  Other unique gift items such as hand-crafted blacksmith items, “live-edge” tables; hand-knit scarves, jewelry, candles, fresh Christmas wreaths and more are available.  Sand Castle Winery from Erwinna, PA will also be at the event giving out samples and selling their delicious wines by the bottle.

Admission is $7.00 for adults, Children 12 & under are Free.  Parking is free on-site.

“Christmas at Joanna” happens Friday December 6, from 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8, 4 pm to 9 pm at Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works “Where the Spirit of Christmas Comes Alive”!

Joanna Furnace is located three miles north of Morgantown off Route 10. Look for signs and enter by turning on Furnace Road. Parking is available on site and along Furnace Road. A safely lighted, easily accessible parking area is located along Furnace Road. For the safety of visitors, all are encouraged to avoid parking along route 10.

The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is a non-profit organization.  Net event proceeds support the education, research, restoration and preservation of the significant 18^th & 19^th century Joanna Furnace Iron Works and its community. For additional information visit www.haycreek.org, friend Joanna Furnace on Facebook or call 610-286-0388.

Family Fun, Fabulous Foods and Restoration at Hay Creek Apple festival

MORGANTOWN, PA – Historic Joanna Furnace begins its celebration of the fall harvest season on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. For almost forty years, the ever-popular Hay Creek Apple Festival has been a family tradition. This event draws visitors of all ages to those favorite traditional foods, seasonal hands-on activities for kids, the historic iron-making complex tours, a large flea market and much more. The crisp fall air and the crackle of leaves underfoot set the mood for this old-style tribute to fall and delicious culinary delights based on the ever-popular apple.

With its tasty variety of apple foods, the Hay Creek Apple Festival is one of the best places in the region to experience the many ways apples were served over two hundred years. Visitors can enjoy a variety of apple specialties, eating on-site or by taking the foods home.  The two-day event opens each day with our Apple Pancake and Sausage Breakfast served from 7:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Apple Festival menu includes such favorites as apple dumplings (served with milk), apple pies, apple crisp, Schnitz-un-Knepp, apple sausage sandwiches, apple fritters, apple bread, apple crisp (served with whipped cream), apples for sale, hand-dipped ice cream also available with apple specialties, and fresh-pressed cider. Other menu items include Homemade Mabel’s Kettle-Cooked Soups (Chicken Corn, Beef Vegetable, Ham & Bean), chicken potpie, hamburgers and hot dogs, French fries, soda, water and coffee.   As always, our famous chicken pot pie and Mabel’s homemade kettle-cooked soups are available by the quart to take home. 

In the early days of the Joanna Furnace community, apples were an important food source all year long. Many varieties could keep for months. Children of the early families had the vital job of checking the apples stored in barrels in the root cellar, making sure that “one bad apple” did not “spoil the bunch.”

The annual apple-baking contest will also take place. The Hay Creek Apple Dessert Contest is open to all those who have “that special family recipe,” which was handed down over the years, or to those who love to create their own special desserts. Details of the contest and prizes can be found at  https://haycreek.org/apple-festival-baking-contest/

The Annual Hay Creek Flea Market will be open at 7:00 a.m. A huge flea market will take place both days where visitors can purchase everything from household items, antique, vintage, children’s toys and clothing, and craft/home décor items.

Interested in being a Flea Market vendor? Call Kathleen at 610-914-8152. Vendor registration and set-up starts Friday – October 11th starting at 10 am.  Vendor applications can also be downloaded by using this link:   https://haycreek.org/flea-market-information/

Numerous family activities round out the fun. These family events include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, face painting for kids, and hay and pony rides. The children will love to ride on the popular Apple Barrel Express. A toy train exhibit will be on display in the Mechanical Technology Building.

Visitors can also purchase ‘scarecrow kits’ to take home. These kits will include the “t” frame, pants, shirt, head, string and accessories. As each scarecrow will have its own personality, each kit will contain different details including such varying things as bandana or belt, hat, tie, etc. and a small amount of straw to stick out of the hands and feet. Homebuilders can use their own newspaper to stuff their scarecrow.

Additional activities include a Petting Zoo and early machinery exhibits operating in the Mechanical Technology Building. Everyone will be able to enjoy visiting the historic ironworks buildings and learning about the Joanna Furnace from our interpreters.

In recognition of National Archaeology Month, there will be an archaeology table set up to introduce families to this exciting activity.

According to Mark Zerr, Executive Director, “This is an exceptional year for Hay Creek. In 2019 almost $300,000 was invested in our preservation projects. Visitors will have an opportunity to see our latest restoration project, the wheelwright shop which was under study and planning for the past several years and is currently under construction.”

Also, visitors can see our other project – phase one of the furnace bosh preservation. This significant project was underwritten by a PHMC Keystone Historic Preservation Grant, a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation, a National Historic Preservation Appell Grant, along with the friends and members of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association.  The work on this valuable artifact was performed by the International Chimney Corporation of Buffalo, New York, famous for successfully relocating the Cape Hatteras Light House.

The Hay Creek Apple Festival at Historic Joanna Furnace is open on Saturday, October 12, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, October 13, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The Festival site is at Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works located just off Route 10, three miles north of Morgantown; turn right on Furnace Road. Admission to the Festival is FREE. Parking is on site with a donation.

For more information, visit www.haycreek.org or call 610-286-0388

RESTORATION OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS AT JOANNA FURNACE

Morgantown, PA . . .  2019 has been a banner year for restoration and preservation projects by the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association at the 228-year-old Joanna Furnace Ironworks near Morgantown. Approximately $300,000 will be invested this year to bring the charcoal furnace back to life through several restoration, preservation and research projects . . . preserving the blast furnace bosh, rebuilding the wheelwright shop and installing shutters on the office/store. In addition, a team from Kutztown University Department of Anthropology & Sociology is working on an archaeological study in the cellar of the Office/Store before installing a brick floor.

Ron Schlegel, President of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association states, “Every project we undertake, within the historic area, follows the rigorous National Historical Standards as defined by the Federal Historic Preservation Guidelines. It’s these guidelines that define specific techniques, methods, materials and the required research. The federal standards drive how we execute projects. Following the rigorous Historic Preservation Standards will ultimately benefit the site when we work to obtain the coveted National Historic Landmark Status for the Joanna Furnace Ironworks in the future.”

Restoration of the Joanna Furnace Wheelwright Shop is set to begin. After almost 15 years of exhaustive research by Hay Creek archaeology volunteers, the original stone foundation has revealed the footprint of this historic building. This mortise and tenon frame structure was about 17 feet by 24 feet. Executive Director Mark Zerr said “It stood until the late 1940s. Mainly it was a woodworker’s shop. It was the wheelwright’s responsibility to keep the company’s wagons ‘on the road’. His job was to construct wheels, spokes, hubs and even the wagons that would haul the charcoal, iron ore and limestone to the site and ultimately transport the finished iron products to market.”

Because only one partial photo of this building exists, Hay Creek preservationists had to rely heavily on archaeology to create a complete reproduction of the structure. The archaeology team uncovered many artifacts over the years but the critical discoveries for the reconstruction were the foundation size, broken glass which indicated window placement, door size and roof material (over the years there were three roofs-two of beaver tail tile and the final of slate). The old partial photo added visual evidence to the fact it was made of board and batten construction like the blacksmith shop across the road. The photo also gave the restoration team a gable end view which enabled them to establish the exact dimensions of the building as well as the pitch of the roof.

Because of the stringent restoration standards Hay Creek subscribes to,  18^th Century Restorations of Pottstown was awarded the mortise and tenon framing part of the project.  William M. Dunleavy Company of West Chester, who specializes in historic roof restoration, will be constructing the slate roof. John C.  Zerr & Sons of Geigertown will be constructing the poured concrete footer and stone mason Tim Angelo of Morgantown will be reconstructing the red sandstone foundation.

The Joanna Furnace Wheelwright shop is expected to cost approximately $115,000. The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association thanks an anonymous donor family who will be underwriting the major portion of this restoration project. This restoration donation honors the tradition of their father, grandfather and great-grandfather who were themselves, wheelwrights. This building will be completed in fall 2019.

Phase one of the Joanna Furnace bosh preservation has been completed. The Joanna blast furnace is unique among most of the remaining charcoal iron furnaces in Pennsylvania. It has one of the only ‘period’ boshes still in existence. This bosh, rebuilt before the last blast in 1898, makes Joanna Furnace an extraordinarily unique and valuable historic site.

The bosh is the firebrick lining of the lower funnel-shaped section of the blast furnace lining. This is where the temperatures were the hottest, exceeding 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of severe wear the bosh was rebuilt every nine to fourteen months for as long as the blast furnace was in operation.

The bosh project phase one was underwritten by a PHMC Keystone Historic Preservation Grant, a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation, National Historic Preservation Appell grant, along with the friends and members of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association.  The work on this valuable artifact was performed by the International Chimney Corporation of Buffalo, New York, famous for successfully relocating the Cape Hatteras Light House.

2019 has been a banner year in the restoration and preservation of Historic Joanna Furnace. Our event guests to the furnace are encouraged to visit the restoration sites. Executive Director, Mark Zerr stated, “Each year we strive to make the Joanna Furnace Ironworks more exciting for our guests. Our events are dedicated to preserving our local history and telling the story of the 18^th and 19^th centuries within the Joanna Furnace community.”

Click here to download Hay Creek Festival Student Day Form 2019