But despite these modifi cations, within just a few years the furnaces at Lock Ridge would be closed.
Following the end of World War I, the price of iron dropped signifi cantly, while at the same time foreign producers began importing iron at costs far lower than that of producing in the United States. As a result of these factors, the United States’ iron boom came to an end. The Lock Ridge furnaces were shut down in 1921 – part of an overall industrial trend that swept both Pennsylvania and the nation.
After closing the furnaces, the Thomas Iron Company sold the property to Wil- liam Butz, a prominent Lehigh Valley businessman. Butz had the majority of the plant dismantled for scrap metal and wood, leaving only the shell of the furnaces and the stone remnants of several buildings.
In the early 1970s, the Butz family do- nated the remaining structures and land to Lehigh County for use as a park. The remains of furnace No. 7 were restored as part of the Furnace Museum, which now includes the rebuilt furnace room, engine house and original cast house. The mu- seum and park opened to the public in August of 1976, and in 1981 the furnace was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, although still owned by the county, the museum is maintained and operated by the Lehigh County Historical Society. From May through September, guided tours are off ered on weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are also welcome to use the numbered signs to take self-guided tours at their leisure.
In addition to the museum, the park also off ers a variety of recreational activities, such as hiking paths, biking trails and a little league baseball fi eld. The Swabia Creek, which was once used as a water source for the Lock Ridge furnaces, pro- vides limited fi shing, while an 81-seat pa- vilion complete with a grill, fi replace and restrooms can be reserved for weddings, special occasions and parties.
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