Blessed with iron ore deposits, vast forests that provided charcoal, abundant coal beds for fuel, limestone for use as flux and streams for water power, Pennsylvania was the ironmaking center of America for more than a century. From tools for blacksmiths and wheel rims for carriages, to steam locomotives and iron rails, iron products from Pennsylvania played a leading role in the development of the English colonies and the United States well into the nineteenth century.

Iron plantations based on charcoal-fueled furnaces were the centers of iron manufacturing. Rural iron plantations were large complexes of production facilities including housing for workers, an ironmaster’s mansion, a village store, forests and often encompassed land containing iron ore deposits. This system of charcoal furnace plantations peaked during the 1830s.

Thomas Potts started his family’s iron empire by becoming manager of the Colebrookdale Furnace in the Schuylkill River Valley. Established about 1720, it was the first blast furnace in Pennsylvania. In 1725 Thomas Potts leased the furnace and became its resident manager. While leasing Colebrookdale Furnace he earned enough money to buy a two-thirds share in the furnace and in 1734 his son John became a founder there.