Community Attractions Visitor Information Lonaconing, Maryland

History Exhibits - -

Lonaconing Iron Furnace George's Creek Coal and Iron Company Blast Furnace Number One Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing, Maryland Structure Number 73000886, National Register of Historical Places In 1837, the founders of the George's Creek Coal and Iron Company built a coal fueled, blast furnace for the production of cast iron, in what has now become the town of Lonaconing, Maryland. First fired in 1839, it operated as a commercial production furnace until 1855, when the nearby deposits of suitable iron ore became exhausted. This furnace was the first in the U.S., possibly the first in the world, to do continuous commercial production using bituminous coal (instead of charcoal) as the furnace fuel, thus creating the basis of the modern worldwide iron and steel industry. A very small furnace by modern standards, optimally it could produce 75 tons of iron, in pig iron form, per week. Although the ancillary air compressors and steam engines no longer exist, the massive block-stone furnace structure, which houses the fire-brick walled furnace, is the centerpiece of Iron Furnace Park on Main Street in Lonaconing. The park is utilized for local and regional events, such as the Sunday in the Park crafts and games festival and the Iron Furnace 5 Kilometer Run which finishes next to the park where the award ceremonies take place. www.Midatlantic.cc

George's Creek Regional History Exhibit George's Creek Regional Library, Main Street, Lonaconing, Maryland A display room contains a collection of documents, publications, memorabilia, photographs, and artifacts relating to the history of the town of Lonaconing, Maryland, and to the surrounding George's Creek area in western Maryland. Items of interest include family histories, civic groups, businesses, churches, schools, and other local organizations. A display case is devoted to Lefty Grove and houses his 1931 Most Valuable Player award, the first award of the continuing series. The exhibit is open to the public at no fee during regular library hours. An illustrated catalog of the History Exhibit's holdings is at www.lonaconing.cc

Klotz Throwing Mill Company In 1907 George Klotz of New York opened a silk throwing mill in Lonaconing, Maryland, to take advantage of the inexpensive labor and cheap coal available in this coal mining area. The operation depended heavily on the labor of women and young children, who could not be employed by the mining industry. Labor conditions improved through the years, and the mill continued productive until 1957, when synthetic fibers encroached on the traditional silk fabric market. The principal building still stands (although damaged), complete with thread spinning equipment, and is listed as a 2007 endangered Maryland location by Preservation Maryland. See also: Potomac River area, American Heritage Rivers. Articles about the silk mill include a Textile Society paper abstract , a Washington Post story, a featured story from Maryland Life, and CNHI News Service. A new story in the Cumberland Times by Jeff Alderton discusses the recent listing in the Endangered Maryland report. A series of photographs is at photos. Although a community group is attempting to save the building for its historical value and as a tourist attraction, the property is available for purchase at present. A recent story by John A. Bone is at Cumberland Times-News; a monograph by Anne Failing, The Lonaconing silk mill, 1907-1957 is presently available (citation).

Parks - -

Various small memorial and public parks decorate Main Street, Lonaconing, for the convenience of residents and the many visitors to the area. [... more snapshots] Down Town Park [...more] Fountain Park [...more] Memorial Corner Island Park Natural Area [...more]

Dan's Mountain State Park The Dan's Mountain State Park, Allegany County, Maryland, features a heated outdoor swimming pool, a miniature golf course, nature trails, picnic areas, and pavilions dispersed among the extensive forested parkland. [....more]

Other Attractions - -

[Other Local and Area Attractions] . .

PRIOR EVENTS Lonaconing Craft Fair and Yard Sales -- Saturday, October 11th Iron Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing. [Snapshots] Valley High School Alumni Association Celebration - Saturday, July 26th Valley High School. Music on the Mountain - Sunday, July 20th Swimming pool area, Dan's Mountain State Park; [Program] ; Sponsored by the Dan's Mountain Park Association. Firemen's Parade and Street Time - July 18 and 19th Douglas Avenue Engine House; parade, Saturday July 19th; Food, games, rides; fun for all ages. Night Swim - July 12th Dan's Mountain State Park; Sponsored by the Dan's Mountain Park Association. George's Creek Campfire - Wednesday, July 2nd. Sponsored by George's Creek Regional Library. George's Creek Days - June 28th through July 6th Lonaconing and throughout the valley of George's Creek, Allegany County, Maryland. [Brochure.] Sunday in the Park - June 29th Iron Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing. [Snapshots.] Twentieth Annual Iron Furnace Five Kilometer Run / 1.5 mile Fun Run -- Saturday, June 28th, 2008 Men's 5K race winner, Abiyot Abebe, Silver Spring, Maryland Women's 5K race winner, Hirut Mandefro, Silver Spring, Maryland Detailed information is available at www.qcstriders.org SEE ALSO: 20th Iron Furnace 5K Race Brochure Lonaconing Iron Furnace Web Site (www.midatlantic.cc) Album of informal snapshots Historic Car Cruise-In -- June 27th Westmar High School PRIOR EVENTS - 2007 Fall Fest -- October 13th [Snapshots] Lonaconing Good Will Fire Company Building, Lonaconing, Maryland. Valley Alumni -- July 28th Lonaconing Fireman's Armory, Lonaconing, Md. Fireworks -- July 3rd Westmar High School Athletic Field. Sunday in the Park -- July 1st 12 noon to 6 pm., Iron Furnace Park, 35 East Main Street, Lonaconing, Md. - music, games, food, crafts, George's Creek Days -- June 30th through July 2nd Various activities in and around the towns along Maryland Route 36. 19th Annual Iron Furnace Five Kilometer Race -- June 30th George's Creek Elementary School to Iron Furnace Park, Lonaconing See Also: Queen City Striders at www.qcstriders.org Central Alumni -- June 30th Lonaconing Fireman's Armory, Lonaconing, Md. Mike Rose; the Magic Road Trip - Saturday, June 23rd Allegany County Library System - South Cumberland Branch, 11:00am; Westernport Branch, 1:00pm; Frostburg Branch, 3:00pm. [Mike Rose Homepage] Goodwill Fire Company 125th Anniversary Celebration -- June 2nd Lonaconing Fireman's Armory, Main Street, Lonaconing

Tourism Literature
• Request for Maryland tourist information brochures --
  www.mdisfun.org/ordervacationguides/ordervacationguides.asp
• Maryland Coal Heritage Tour brochure --
  www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/oed/scenicByways/Coal.pdf
• Lonaconing Iron Furnace brochure --
  lonaconing.home.att.net/brochure01.pdf