Clarion, PA: 1845-57 Helen (Highland, Hieland) Blast Furnace

(Satellite)

Note the hill behind the furnace. Old blast furnaces are typically built against the side of a hill so that a bridge could be built from the hill to the top of the furnace. This facilitated using wheelbarrows to charge the furnace.

Street View, Aug 2024

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It was built in 1845 and was 32' (9.7m) high.
She says that the charging bridge was in place until just a few years ago. The furnace blast was steam powered. 

hmdb, cropped

The rear of the sign in the above Street View shows the charging bridge.

hmdb, cropped

Digitally Zoomed

AtlasObscura
"Between the 1830s and the 1860s, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, was known as “The Iron County,” thanks to its booming iron industry and many cold-blast iron furnaces. For a stretch of time, at least one new furnace was being built each year. And each new furnace meant many new jobs: the largest employed 75 to 100 men each, while the smaller ones employed 25 to 50. These furnaces became, literally and figuratively, pillars of the community."

HemlockStateExplorer
"Helen Furnace, originally named “Hieland Furnace” was one of 31 iron furnaces in the “Iron Country” of Clarion County, a leader in the iron boom from 1828 through the middle of the century. The furnace was rebuilt in 1977 and is situated in a park with pavilions and benches located at the top of the hill."