The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 8

Daily Moil. EIGHT-- Md. Family Section Saturday, 26, 1977 UM Pktntr McCarly holds one of Iwo tottered ledgers she found years ago at tbt si'le ot tht Green Spring furnace, The "find" describes building thi furnact of Grwn Spring, and virifiti data taught by historians. This reproduction from an old photograph Itnl by tht Washington County fret Library snows; rtnter, Ihe building on Iht Grttn Spring Furnace silt where significant 19th century ltdgtrt wtre wtdg.it) fVornt a buf.joid to hovt'onct a start-room, was flanked at timt by two log rttidtncts, os shown here. Old ledgers verify dates of second Green Spring Furnace By ORA ANN ERNST What couid be called a "real finrf" has jusl been made in the form tattered parts two ledgers kept at the Green Spring Furnace in 1848, 1849 and 1850.

Without their backs ar.d with pages incomplete, (he nondescript documents fill in facts sought by certain local historians, verifying (he dates of (he building of the second furnace on the Green Spring site. Discovery of the ledgers was actually marie nearly 30 years ago by Una Ptotner McCarty, now of Belvicir when she and her family moved to the historic "Lancelot Jacques Green Spring Kurcace" farm (hey had bought. The 115-acre property is located on the Big Spring-Big Pool Head leading from Clear Spring to Port Frederick, but today it contains no visible remains of the famous furnace. Only one building, a frame and log residence said to more than ZOO years bid, is still standing, but j( is covered with modern shingles. "I found the ledgers wedged down between rafters in fhe attic of the part that bail once been Die storeroom," says Mrs.

McCarty who did not realize the importance the papers which she has carefully preserved. The trail ledgers were'the only historic items she discovered on the place, she says as she sadly recalls that a former owner said he bad "cleaned out a lot of such things." 'Business and 'lime book' One of the backless books is the "Green Spring Furnace Business Ledger" with its firsl entry dated May 3,1818. It is an account book resembling another one of the same period now in the possession of the Mary Charles family at Charles' Mill. But the second ledger found by Mrs. McCarly is (he "Green Spring Furnace Time Book," and, surprisingly, it contains the most significant documentations.

For, below the records of days put in by employees, there are neat, perpendicular natations (hat appear to be a diary of activities at the furnace, rather than b'jsiness accounts. The lirst revealing item "entered by B. F. Roman, clerk," was written in June 1848, ami it reads: "digging down old stack." That entry was followed a few days later by "cleaning away old stack." Thai furnace slack (now referred to as the "first had been built around 1770 by Lancelot Jacques and Thomas Johnson. Today a State Roads Commission marker sl'andrag at the site says: "LANCELOT JACQUES, A French Huguenot who in partnership with, Thomas Johnson in 1768 built 'Grcenspring He anil Johnson dissolved partnership in 1775 when Johnson became (he lirst governor of Jacques' house twill about 1766." Paper by Michael Thompson In an extensively-researched paper just printed in May, Thompson, a sludenl at West Virginia Unlver- sity, has traced land records, assessments and census listings lo give a comprehensive history of Hie Green Spring Furnace and ol (he Forl Frederick Forge also owned by Jacques.

According to Thompson's findings, when Johnson be'-' came governor Maryland, some of his interests Were purchased by Denlon Jacques, Lancelot's nephew who became active in the management of Ihe iron works. The Jacques uncle ami nephew prospered during and immediately after the Revolutionary War, employing 80 slaves by 1763 Ihe largest number; says Thompson, employed by any Western Maryland furnace operators of that day. In.lhe "recession anil light money marW'-lhat followed the period of prosperity, the Jacques holdings were reduced and mortgages jeapordized. Operation of the first Green ing Kurnace seems to have been terminated around 1800. But Denton Jacques was able to keep or regain control of Ihe Green Spring holdings, for, after nearly it) years of Idleness, the property was sold in April 1848, by Denton Jacques II anit George Jacques, executors Ihe estate of Arthur Jacques, to J.

Ulxon Roman, Jeremiah llaines and Mark Haines, all of Lancaster, Pa. Then began the rebuilding of the b'jsiness and the era ol the "second" furnace on the site. At this point in his paper, Thompson makes a supposition that Is proven correct by Ihe recently-revealed ledgers: "Although the new furnace slack is commonly said lo have been erected in 1848, it is probably more likely that 1849 was tiic actual completion date." John director of Ihe Western Maryland Room at the Washington County Free Library', says this correlation proves ulial a metcaikxis researcher Thompson is. and adds that the county library plans lo publish the WVU student's work in 1978. Notations from firm book Following the Jur.e 1848 lime book entry of digging down the old slack and cleaning up, there is another significant "digging ditch lo lay lead pipes." Then como mare brief notes that give a picture of putting the furnace again into operalion: July 1848 laid foundation stone of stack; Philips was mason; digging (ail stone; Aaron in quarry, raised a log house; all hands digging lime kiln; September 1848 fired lime kiln; Oclaber 1848 burning lime; fixing coal house walls; N.

B. Hull and Draper commenced making trunk; November 1848 Hull and Draper at bellows; December 1848 McDoiigal building head wall; commenced hot Hast; McDouga! and tender building scaffold; January 1849 out UD water wheel shaft; made road lo coal house; Owen ar.d Kraft commenced mine; February 1849 laying for trunk; March 1849 hands commenced mine bank; hauling coal braze on meadow; llaines and Kline framing casting house; April 1849 raised casting house; May 1849 raised coal house; finished roofing coal house; had coal burned up al coal house; July 1849 raised wheel house; casing blast pipes; shingled bellows house; October 1849 founder commenced work; fixing furnace; filled furnace with charcoal; November 1849 ihis day fired furnace; hired Frainer lo keep furnace; Frainer did not work well; Frair.er did nol do much; December 1849 Frainer quit; Gallaher keeping furnace; January 1850 H. Mills gone lo Higerslown with pie iron; February 1830 stopped furnace to repair bellows and on account of cold weather; breaking limestone. 'Human'picture olattmties Besides the entries (hat document the building and firing of the second furnace, (here are some choice items in'the lime book (hat paint an interesting, human picture of ihe activities of UK people in the settlement around the furnace: McG'tilre boils on neck and arm; pulling weeds in potatoes; Aaron Williams shoeing Sam's Iwrse; gone to camp wagon al noon- making shingles; A. Williams in Hagerstown afler stove and gudgeons; hauling straw; husking corn; to iledgesville for meat; burning brash; to Charles Mill for feed; looking al tinkering jobs; snow 8 leches deep; fixing cupboard in house; sowed clover seed; mending' fence; mule team arrived; quit al.noon drunk; Mllly left for good; Williams lo railroad for'guano; Williams at Honeywood Mill for bran; and butchered h.ogs 1201 pounds.

Names that artnear In the lime book is employees of the iron works are Cook, Gorsuch. Geasling, llinlon, Mills, Foard, iUc.Mullen, Frainer, Hoof, Gallaher, Woodard, Frazier, Webb, Nash, Noonan, Potter, Lynch, Davis, Jones, Corbctt, lliggs, Shederick, Murry, Moody, Hobison, Klchelberger, Broun, Slimex, Hopkins, Lathem, and "Sam Williams and learn." 1. Dixon Roman, influential citizen There are frequent references made io election days and lo Whig meetings, and (hey coincide with biographical notes about J. Dixon fioman, one of the purchasers of the "second" furnace business. Washington County Thomas J.

C. Williams, savs that Roman, a Whig, was efeed (o Congress in J847, and was an elector oa Ihe successlul presidential ticket headed by Zachary also a -Whig. Roman, a successful Pennsylvania businessman, became an equally successful Hagerstown citben, settling here after passed the Maryland bar. Described as "one of ihe wealthiest and most influential" local residents, he became best known as president of UK Hagerstown Bank, a position he held from 1851 to his death in 1866, and he-is credited with guiding the bank lo great prosperity. Ho must have been an active'partner the Green Spring Furnace business, for ledger entries of his visits, saying, "Dixon Roman here." clerk w-ho kept the furnace ledgers was named F.

Roman, and. according lo Jacques family records, married a Sarah Jacques'in 1852. When Dixon died in 1806, his share of the business'was bought by (he Haines brothers, who operated the iron works as J. B. Haines ar.d Co.

The company evidently expanded in ihe area, for Ihe 1877 atlas of Washinglon County shows at least ten spots on and ar.ound (he canal and the railroad ihat bear (he name B. Haines and Company." Bui il is believed Ihat (ho Green Spring Furnace ilself ceased operation hi Ihe depression following Ihe Civil War and that it was blown out for the last lime in (he "panic' year" of 1873 when (he price of pig iron wenl from $30 (o Sll per Ion. Diane Horst weds Diane Cheryl Horst, and Ricky Steven Michael were married Friday, November 18, at Bethel Assembly of God. The bride Is Ihe daughter of Mr. and Mrs- Samuel E.

Horst Cavetown. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. ar.d Mrs. Larry L. Michael, Hancock.

Mrs. Michael graduated in 1075 from. Smilhsburg High School and attended Hagerslown Junior College. She is employed by the United Stales Department ol Energy. Mr.

Mlcliael is a 1976 graduate of Hancock Senior High School and also allendcd WC. He is an employee of R. K. Kline. Inc.

Tin couple will reside in Hagerstown. Couple marries The marriap of Anila Rulh Gearhart and Mark John Smith place recently in Ihe Church of the Holy Trinity at Oak Ridge. The bride is of Mr. and Mrs. Robert P.

Gearhart, 117 Lincoln Ave. The bridegroom is the ton at Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, W. Baltimore Funlulown.

Mrs. Smith 11974 graduate of Williamsport High School and II employed with the Maryland Motor Veblcto Admlnldration. Mr. Smith ii -im graduate of South Ilagerslowrj High School and is employed with Trust Co. The coupte is residing in Funkstown.

Kalhy Karn weds marriage of Kathy Aim Kara and Brian Dulfey place on Suraiay, November 6, In the Hagerstown Church ol UM Brttfcrw. The bride Is the daughter erf Mr. and Mn. Laurence L. Kara, Washington.

Ave. Tht bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mn. Ellh Dulfey, JttO Eden Dr. Mrs.

Duffey Is a member of the' tentor class at South Hagerstown High Sdwol and a' employed at Ihe Roy Rogeri Family Restaurant. Mr. Dutrey it 1976 graduate of North Hagerstown High School and with M. P. Mollcr Pipe Organs.

couple will make their borne Apt. A-l Townhouse Manor. Chriitlne Louise Bare and Richard Lynn Rushing exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, November VI, at UM First Church. The bride is'the daughter of Mr. and Mn.

Jacob K. Ban, 1115 Hamilton Blvd. TIN bridt- jroom the SOB of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E.

Rmh- Inf. Rt. Va. Mrs. flushing is a graduate cf Madiion College, where she received her B.S.

in dietetics. She Is employed as a registered (Sell- i at Roanoke Memorial Hospital In Roanoke, Mr. Rinding Is a graduate of Polytechnic Institule, where he received his B.S. degree in accounting. He is employed ai assistant controller with the Evans Products CompanyJn Roanoke; Va.

The couple will reside in Salem, Va. Waynesboro bride Kay Ebenote and Timothy Obet- holaer we rturrW on Saturday, November la the Hollowell Brtthrwi bi Chrtat Churcfc, Waynejfcore, Pa, The brM. Ute daufhter of Mr. Mrs. Robert H.

ST. of Grow, Tin bridegroom Uw ton of Mr. Mn. Harry C. Obtrtobtr 17 N.

Linden Pj. Mn. it a 1977 frxtwU el Greencajllt-Anlrlm School. Mr. Obernolzer is 1975 of Greencastle-Antrim High Sdioo) and it serving with the U.S.

Air Force. The coupte Is retMing at BIO Milner Gulfport, Miss..