Eliza Furnace
Also known as: Ritter's Furnace
Why it's listed
Eliza Furnace is a stone charcoal iron furnace on Blacklick Creek west of Vintondale, Pennsylvania, in Cambria and Indiana counties. Built in 1846 by George Rogers of Ebensburg and David Ritter, who named it after Ritter's wife Eliza, it is the only remaining structure of the furnace complex, a stack about 32 feet tall. Its heat exchanger and cast iron hot blast pipe survive, along with Roman arches on its elevations. The furnace is valued as a representative example of late charcoal iron production in western Pennsylvania, when eastern furnaces had moved to coke or anthracite. Its output was sent to rolling mills in Johnstown and Pittsburgh, but poor local ore and high hauling costs to Johnstown kept it unprofitable. It produced about 1,000 tons in 1849 and closed in 1850. Its hot blast stove is considered a rare survivor of a once common type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the furnace is significant under Criterion A for industry as an example of a western Pennsylvania charcoal iron furnace that operated after eastern furnaces had abandoned charcoal, and as a small furnace serving local and regional markets. It is also significant under Criterion C for the rarity of its surviving hot blast stove and downpipe.
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 91001138, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Lower Main St., Buffington and Blacklick Townships, Vintonville |
|---|---|
| County | Cambria County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001138 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1846-1850 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The furnace ceased operations in 1850, was later purchased by the Vintondale Collieries, and was acquired by the Cambria County Historical Society in 1965. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.48424, -78.92209 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91001138.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5483961
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.