Joanna Furnace Complex
Why it's listed
Built in 1792 by Samuel Potts and Thomas Rutter III along Hay Creek in Morgantown, Berks County, Joanna Furnace was an iron-making works that operated under several companies, including Thomas Bull & Co., Darling & Smith Co. and Levi B. Smith & Sons. The furnace was rebuilt in 1847, raised from 28 to 40 feet and, according to the nomination, converted from cold blast to hot blast. Its surviving stack stands 40 feet high from a 28-foot square base, with a huge stone arch at the blowing entrance. Nearby are the blower/engine house, a sandstone building with Gothic-arched openings, and a two-and-a-half-story office and store with a slate gable roof. The complex is significant for its industrial features, which remain largely intact. The furnace is one of the few surviving works erected by the Potts and Rutter families, and it contributed to iron production in Berks County, then a leading center of American iron manufacture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the complex is one of the very few surviving furnaces erected by the Potts and Rutter families and that its industrial features remain largely intact. It is presented as one of the most industrially significant sites in Berks County, and it played a major role in the development of Robeson Township.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003426, listed April 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Morgantown on PA 10, Robeson Township, Morgantown |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | April 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003426 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1700-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Potts & Thomas Rutter |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The furnace stack, blower/engine house and store/office survive; the casting house, charcoal house and blacksmith shop survive as walls or foundations; the mansion and barn are now foundations; the furnace, store/office and blower/engine house are basically intact but need repair. |
| Acreage | 13.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.19056, -75.88877 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003426.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12060880
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.