Sundays in March
Mini-Lectures
Sundays from 1:30 - 2pm
March 1: Beyond exploring Penn’s vision for his “holy experiment,” this presentation will also shine a light on the important roles played by his two wives, Gulielma and Hannah. These remarkable women managed the family estate, supported the family’s business affairs, practiced medicine, and assisted their husband in the governance of Pennsylvania, making their own lasting contributions to the colony’s success.
March 15: When the Civil War began in April 1861, the North relied heavily on its strong iron and steel industries to supply the Union war effort. Factories and furnaces across the region worked at full capacity to produce the materials needed to fight the Confederacy. Cornwall Iron Furnace was part of that effort and serves as a powerful example of how local industry supported the nation during wartime.
This presentation will explore how Cornwall Furnace operated during the Civil War, what it produced, and how its earlier history prepared it to meet the demands of war. The furnace was an important industrial resource, and its charcoal-fired iron became especially valuable for certain critical munitions used by the Union Army and Navy
March 22: This presentation explores the panic felt by local ironmasters whose furnaces lay directly in the path of the Confederate advance. It will examine how operations like Cornwall Furnace prepared for the possibility of seizure or destruction, and how others, including Caledonia Furnace, were not as fortunate and suffered the consequences of the Confederate invasion.
March 29: Join us as we learn about the newest addition to Cornwall Iron Furnace’s collection - a historic carriage once owned by Sarah H. Coleman. Sarah, along with members of her family, owned and operated Cornwall Iron Furnace from 1861 until it closed in 1883. The carriage was previously displayed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania and arrived at Cornwall Iron Furnace this past May. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a remarkable piece of local history up close and learn the story behind it!
These FREE 30-minute bite-sized lectures will be held at the Cornwall Iron Furnace Visitor Center.
