Industry on the Early American Frontier: The Peter Tarr Furnace
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we’re turning our focus to the stories that shaped our own backyard. Through this special America250 series, local historian Paul Zuros explores the people, places, and moments that defined Brooke and Hancock Counties. From frontier settlements and early industry to the landmarks that still stand today, discover the stories that defined our area.
These stories remind us that American history was forged at a local level along our creeks, in our hills, and in the communities built by determined settlers, immigrants, and innovators. As we reflect on 250 years of our nation, discover the roots of West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle.
The history of Hancock and Brooke Counties are unique. Going back to our earliest days, our pioneer ancestors showed determination, grit, and resilience while they carved out life in the wilderness. With these attributes, our pioneer forbearers opened up our area in the years following the American Revolution. Many who settled the Northern Panhandle of WV moved here for opportunities and a fresh start bringing their family and starting businesses to support themselves and others on the frontier. One such enterprise was located in Hancock County and can still be seen today.
The Peter Tarr Furnace, located today in Weirton along Kings Creek, was built sometime between 1790 and 1794 on land owned by early pioneer James Campbell. Campbell lived in a home directly across the creek from the furnace although his home is no longer there. It served as a blockhouse to protect area settlers from Native American attacks which were prevalent at that time period. What is important to know is that attacks were happening on both sides of the conflict between the settlers and Native Americans.
Peter Tarr, a Prussian immigrant who came to the new world around 1790, bought the furnace from Campbell in 1799, after much of the conflicts with the Native Americans were in the past. He purchased around 577 acres along the creek and began operating the business. The furnace operated using native supplies of materials. The iron ore came from local deposits that were hand dug, limestone from local sources, and charcoal from the trees surrounding the creek. Trees were felled around the hillsides and loaded into earthen furnaces to burn with low oxygen to create charcoal. The charcoal burns hotter and is a better fuel for the melting of iron ore. Since the furnace required so much charcoal, many hillsides around the furnace were cut clear of their trees for the fuel.
The ingredients were loaded into the furnace from the top by way of runway that extended from the hillside behind it to the top of the furnace, some of it can still be seen today. To get the materials hot enough, a bellow was required to pump air into the furnace, this was accomplished with a water wheel that was connected to a run from the nearby creek that powered the wooden wheel. When the furnace was tapped, the molten iron flowed out to the foundry floor to fill molds in the shape of different products to sell. The furnace filled a vital role in the early frontier by providing essential iron products to the pioneers in this area. Iron objects were heavy and moving them from Eastern settlements across the mountains was an expensive and time consuming endeavor. Some of the products that were made here included skillets, pots, fire backs, grates, axes, plows, wagon parts, cooking implements and other iron materials.
The Peter Tarr furnace gained notoriety by participating in the War of 1812 when Oliver Hazard Perry was commissioned to outfit a fleet of ships at Erie, Pennsylvania to fight the British. Perry needed a large amount of Iron to outfit his fleet and in the wilderness of our area, there were few foundries that could take on the challenge. Tarr’s furnace received a government contract to cast cannon balls and other iron implements to supply the fleet. Mules moved these heavy objects north to Erie. The battle of Lake Erie occurred on September 13, 1813, and Perry successfully defeated the British. Without the help of these wilderness furnaces, the battle may have had a different outcome.
The furnace was in operation under a few different owners until around 1840. After this point in time, superior iron and steel objects were more widely available in this area. The furnace slowly fell into disrepair and was allowed to collapse. In 1961 the area around the furnace was parceled off into a housing development. In that same decade, a group of citizens from the Hancock County Historical Society came together to rebuild the furnace as we see it today. Using a study of the site completed in 1923 and what remained at the location at that time, historians and builders reconstructed the furnace to its early 19th century appearance.
Today visitors to the Peter Tarr Furnace can get a sense of our local history and how Hancock County participated in the defense of our nation. Immigrants and settlers like James Campbell and Peter Tarr worked tirelessly to create a life here in the wilderness and realize their version of the American dream. Places like this make our nation and community special. In this, our nations 250th birthday, we honor all those who came before to create the nation we know today. The Peter Tarr Furnace is a place where that past comes alive.
