Altoona, PA: 1811-84 Alleghany Blast Furnace and 1846 Baker Mansion

Furnace: (HAER; Satellite)

Company Store: (Satellite)

Mansion: (Satellite)

The building on the left is the oldest building in Altoona. It was the company store and office for the blast furnace, which is on the right.

Street View, May 2025

Baker was the owner of the iron furnace, and this was his mansion.

AltoonaPA, this webpage has a history of Altoona.

hmdb, cropped

hmdb, cropped

"Significance: Though constructed in 1811, Allegheny did not prosper until the mid 183 0s when Elias Baker assumed its control. The furnace was originally charcoal fired though it was converted to coke in the 1860s. The furnace went out-of-blast in the 1870s." [HAER_data]

As we have come to expect, the furnace is built into a steep hillside so that a charging bridge could be built to the top.

HAER PA,7-ALTO,163--1
EAST AND SOUTH FACE OF FURNACE, LOOKING NORTHWEST. - Allegheny Furnace, Union Avenue & Cresent Road, Altoona, Blair County, PA

HAER PA,7-ALTO,163--2
NORTH AND EAST FACE OF FURNACE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST.

CoalAndCoke, 1 of many photos of the furnace. This one shows the pipe that the webpage author points out in a different photo.

CoalAndCoke, this webpage has many interior photos.
"The rear of the Baker Mansion."

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