Carrie Furnace

Carrie Blast Furnace Number 6 and 7

Carrie Furnace
Location Northern side of the Monongahela River 0.5 miles west of the Rankin Bridge in Munhall, Rankin, and Swissvale
Coordinates 40°24′47.09″N 79°53′24.28″W / 40.4130806°N 79.8900778°W / 40.4130806; -79.8900778Coordinates: 40°24′47.09″N 79°53′24.28″W / 40.4130806°N 79.8900778°W / 40.4130806; -79.8900778
Area 168 acres (68 ha)
Built 1884
NRHP Reference # 06001070[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP September 20, 2006
Designated PHLF 1989[2]

Carrie Furnace is a derelict former blast furnace located along the Monongahela River in the Pittsburgh area industrial town of Swissvale, Pennsylvania, and it had formed a part of the Homestead Steel Works. The Carrie Furnaces were built in 1884 and they operated until 1982. During its peak, the site produced 1,000 to 1,250 tons of iron per day.[3] All that is left of the site are furnaces #6 and #7, which operated from 1907 to 1978,[4] along with the hot metal bridge.

The site is currently managed by the nonprofit Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, which conducts tours from May through October. The organization is petitioning the federal government to incorporate the site into a proposed Homestead Works National Park. In May 2015, the summer reality TV show American Ninja Warrior filmed in Carrie Furnace.

Location: Size: Features: Owner: Current Use Past Use: Contaminants: Total Actual Cost
Allegheny County, PA 168 Acres Large Parcel, Flat Land, and Riverfront Location Allegheny County Vacant Land Blast furnace PCBs, Sulfates $70–$100 million to convert Carrie Furnace #6 & #7 into a Steel Heritage Museum and Allegheny County has projected that the environmental clean-up would cost between $3–$5 million

History, topography, and environmental concerns

The table portrays the history of Carrie Furnace. Carrie Furnace is located along the Monongahela River, with 135 acres located on the north bank of the river and 33 acres on the south bank. The site, however, is not readily accessible as it is enclosed by railroad tracks. The surrounding areas include Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Whitaker, and Munhall. After the Park Corporation purchased the site from U.S. Steel in 1988, both parties agreed to address the environmental concerns. In 2005, Allegheny County purchased the land from Park Corps. for $5.75 million.[3] Underground fuel storage tanks were removed in 1994 along with two above ground fuel storage units. In addition, asbestos from the buildings was removed. The soil was contaminated with PCBs and sulfates. Environmental assessment of the site has been conducted in two phases. The first phase was completed in 2007 and the second is currently underway.

1881 1892 1898 1901 1978 1988 2005 2006
Carrie Furnace is built Homestead Strike Site purchased by Andrew Carnegie Incorporated into U.S. Steel Shutdown Sold to Park Corporation Sold to Allegheny County for $5.75 million Furnaces 6 and 7 were designated a National Historic Landmark[1][3]

Future development

Partners in the redevelopment of Carrie Furnace include Allegheny County, several nearby municipalities, and the Steel Industry Heritage Council. These organizations seek to preserve the remaining industrial structures while utilizing the site for economic development. The redevelopment plan is mixed-use as it contains plans for commercial and residential development, as well as light industrial manufacturing.[5] Housing, office buildings, a hotel, a conference center, transportation center, and a museum are included in the plan. For example, the hot metal rail bridge that connected Carrie Furnace to Homestead Works is to be converted into an automobile bridge, which will allow access to the site. The bridge also connects the site to the Waterfront – a retail development across the Monongahela River.[3] Additionally, the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. is working with Allegheny County on establishing a museum about the history of steel centered on the two blast furnaces still standing on the site.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Carrie Furnace Case Study" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "Rivers Of Steel". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  5. ↑ Rujumba, Karamagi (18 May 2009). "Redevelopment of Carrie Furnace Site to Begin This Year". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  6. ↑ Muessig, Ben. "Blast from the Past: Old Steel Mill Forges New Life as a Park". AOL News. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
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