The "Lancaster County's Hidden Gem" Story

Sign at entrance to Historic Poole Forge.

It was an ordinary day.  My wife, Carol, and I are walking around the grounds of the historic Poole Forge in Narvon, Pennsylvania.  Narvon is located on Rt. 23, about a half-hour drive east from the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Route 23 was at one time one of a very few roads that led west from the city of Philadelphia as people traveled west until they reached the mighty Susquehanna River.  The property dates back to the earliest days of our young nation and was part of the flourishing iron industry in Lancaster County.  In 1775 James Old purchased the property where we are standing.  He was an experienced iron master and saw the potential of the property along the Conestoga.  

The covered bridge build near Poole Forge. Click on images to enalarge.

He built and operated the forge for twenty years.  Pig iron was brought in from nearby furnaces, refined and sold to local black- smiths as well as sold to markets in Phila- delphia where it was used to make armaments for the Revolutionary War.  James sold the forge in 1795 to his son, Davis, who continued the operation of refining iron.  Over the next 50 years it changed hands a few times until in 1852, with the iron industry fading, the forge was closed.  

Bridge's interior using the burr arch trust design.

Poole Forge was one of a few key components that led to the survival of our young country when relations with England became strained and finally broke.  The area where we are standing is surrounded by hillside and is along the Conestoga creek in Caernarvon Township.  At one time the area was a vibrant iron plantation which included the Ironmaster's Mansion, Paymaster's Building, spring house as well as two tenant houses.  

This is the West Tenant House on the grounds of Poole Forge.

A nearby covered bridge that crosses the Conestoga Creek, now known as the Conestoga River, is the perfect setting for Carol and myself on this beautiful day in late August.  The area where the covered bridge now stands was where the Downingtown and Ephrata Turnpike crossed the Conestoga River in the mid-1850s.  

Parking is supplied for those arriving with horse and buggy.

The bridge was needed to help those traveling on the road better cross the river.  The owner of Poole Forge since 1854, Mr. Isaac O. Blight, signed a petition asking Lancaster County to build a bridge by his location to make it easier to cross the river.  Mr. Blight lived in the mansion with his wife Matilda and son William at the time.  On June 8, 1858, Justices of the Peace Levi Ringwait and Hanson Jacob signed an affirmation for the proposal for the erection of the bridge.  

The beautiful Ironmaster's Mansion.

It was said the bridge should be built 89 feet from the Poole Forge coal house due to hot coals possibly catching the bridge on fire and that it be built without a roof.  On May 16, 1859 a contract was signed to build the bridge for $1,219.  The bridge was built using the Burr Trust type by Levi Fink and was 99 feet from end post to end post with a width of 15 feet.  It was built with a roof high enough to allow livestock to pass through it.  

The forge is located along the Conestoga Creek later called River.

As I drove through it today it looks to be in near-perfect shape.  In August of 1980 the Poole Forge Bridge was listed in the national Register of Historic Places.  As Carol and I walked around the grounds of Poole Forge, she remarked about how beautiful the original Ironmaster's Mansion was.  

Remnants of the forge can be seen on the other side of the river.

The mansion recently was renovated with a new roof, windows, new plumbing, electrical lines and exterior lighting.  The entire mansion was repointed with appropriate mortar and walkways were enhanced.  Today the Mansion is used for community events.  I had a chance to take many photographs, since there were only a few others walking the grounds with us.  Tough to visualize what it must have looked like in its heyday, but if it was half as beautiful as it is today, it would have been one of the finest locations in Pennsylvania.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Another view of the Mansion.

#141 on the Lancaster County Historic Preservation Trust Site list.

The covered bridge is beautiful for any distance.

This lone woodpecker is trying his best to get into
the small hole made for a bird perhaps half his size.