The small stone building sits quietly among the remains of Greenwood Furnace, but stepping inside tells a different story. A coal fire crackles in the forge, sparks fly as glowing iron meets steel, and the air carries a faint metallic scent. It is here that state park volunteer Don Maurer brings early American blacksmithing back to life.

Maurer’s demonstrations are equal parts craftsmanship and living history. With practiced movements, he lifts heated iron from the fire, places it on the anvil, and begins shaping it. Each strike rings through the shop, creating a steady rhythm that quickly captures the attention of passersby.

“There’s something about the sound that draws people in,” said Jen Moore, environmental education specialist with the Bureau of State Parks at the Greenwood Furnace State Park Complex. “Once they stop and listen, they often stay to watch a piece go from raw iron to a finished tool.”

During demonstrations, visitors see simple objects take shape — hooks, forks and spoons — items that once were everyday necessities. The iron glows bright orange, then slowly darkens as it cools, highlighting the patience and precision required in a trade that predates modern manufacturing.

Photo courtesy of DCNR
William Taylor, a park resource ranger at Caledonia State Park in Adams and Franklin counties, works in the Blacksmith Shop at Greenwood Furnace.

“These are skills that aren’t used much anymore,” Moore said. “Watching Don work helps people appreciate how much time and effort went into even the most basic tools during the furnace era.”

In Greenwood Furnace’s heyday during the 19th century, the blacksmith shop was a center of daily activity. The blacksmith’s duties extended well beyond crafting household items. Tools needed repairs, wagons required constant maintenance, harnesses broke, and the company mules that hauled materials to and from the furnace had to be shod.

“Blacksmiths kept everything running,” Moore said. “If something broke, they were the ones who fixed it. Without them, the furnace couldn’t operate.”

Today, Maurer’s work gives visitors a tangible connection to that past. Heat radiates from the forge, sparks flash briefly before fading, and the sharp ring of metal fills the shop. Children often gather close, watching intently, while adults linger to ask questions or take photos.

The demonstrations are part of Greenwood Furnace State Park’s broader interpretive efforts, which include exhibits detailing ironmaking and the small village built around the furnace. Surrounded by forest and nestled in a narrow valley, Greenwood Furnace once burned day and night, producing iron that helped fuel America’s growth.

Blacksmith demonstrations are scheduled throughout the 2026 season and are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. All sessions meet at the blacksmith shop. Scheduled demonstrations are held on Fridays and Saturdays including:

• May 22: 4 to 8 p.m.; and May 23: 9 a.m. to noon;

• June 5: 1 to 4 p.m.; and June 6: 9 a.m. to noon;

• July 3: 1 to 4 p.m.; and July 4: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

• August 14: 1 to 4 p.m.; and August 15: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

• September 7: 9 a.m. to noon; September 25: 1 to 4 p.m.; and September 26: 9 a.m. to noon.

Outside of scheduled demonstrations, the blacksmith shop is typically open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from May 4 through Sept. 4, depending on volunteer availability.

“People don’t just read about history here,” Moore said. “They hear it, feel the heat, and watch it happen. That’s what makes the experience stick.”

For more information, visit the DCNR Calendar of Events at events.dcnr.pa.gov or follow Greenwood Furnace State Park on Facebook.