Codorus Forge and Furnace Historic District

Codorus Forge and Furnace Historic District, also known as Hellem (Hellam) Forge, is a historic iron forge and national historic district located at Hellam Township in York County, Pennsylvania. The district includes four contributing buildings, one contributing site, and one contributing structure. The contributing buildings are the iron furnace (c. 1836), charcoal house (c. 1836), ruins of works' houses (c. 1836), ironmaster's house and furnace office (c. 1780), privy, forge (1800), and ruins of unknown structures. The furnace measures approximately 30 feet square at the base and 12 feet high. The ironmaster's house is a 2 1/2-story, stuccoed stone building, nine bays wide and one room deep. The Hellem (Hellam) Forge was first established in 1765.^[2]

Codorus Forge and Furnace Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Overview of the blast furnace
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Location	Junction of River Farm and Furnace Roads, southeast of Saginaw, Hellam Township, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°3′5″N 76°39′26″W
Area	7 acres (2.8 ha)
Built	1765
Architectural style	Iron furnace
MPS	Iron and Steel Resources of Pennsylvania MPS
NRHP reference No.	91001132[1]
Added to NRHP	September 6, 1991

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.^[1]

The Codorus Furnace is currently owned and maintained by the Conservation Society of York County. The organization is conducting a campaign to restore and reinforce the structure, as well as the nearby charcoal house foundation. In 2023 and 2024, an Eagle Scout project by a Scout from Dover, PA was completed which added steps and safety railings that added accessibility to the trails behind the furnace, which lead to the charcoal house and into the Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania". CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on July 21, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2011. Note: This includes Diane B. Reed (March 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Codorus Forge and Furnace Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved December 21, 2011.