Location: Mercer County
Dates of Operation: 1845 to 1861
Owners: B.B. Vincent and David Himrod; Sharon Iron Company; Iron Mountain Furnace Company
Historical Significance: The Clay Furnace was one of only a handful of furnaces in Pennsylvania that used raw bituminous coal. The switch from charcoal to coal and coke helped to preserve natural resources. Coal also burned hotter than charcoal, which led to the manufacture of higher quality iron. Clay Furnace was abandoned in 1861, however, because it could not compete with coke-fueled furnaces.
