Community Attractions Visitor Information Lonaconing, Maryland

History Exhibits - -

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

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

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). A 1/23/2011 Cumberland Times-News story by Michael A. Sawyersis is available at citation.

Parks - -

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

Dan's Mountain State Park Halfway between Frostburg and Westernport, atop a sixteen mile long ridge along the George's Creek valley in western Allegany county, Maryland, is Dan's Mountain State Park -- 480 acres of highland meadow, forest, mountain brooks, and a fishing pond; picnic areas, playgrounds, park benches, miniature golf course, and an outdoor heated swimming pool. The Olympic size, heated pool has water slides, a fenced-in wading pool, bathhouse, and a snack bar just outside the pool enclosure. Four rental pavilions with amenities for large private gatherings, 30 to 60 people, are available, scattered around the park area. Dan's Mountain Park is a dawn-to-dusk facility and has no camping area. The staffed services generally are available Memorial Day to Labor Day, staffing provided by local volunteers. In deference to the wildlife, pets are NOT permitted. For the disabled, the park provides accessible overlooks and an access ramp to the swimming pool. . . . . . more information . . . . . pavilion rental information. Park Service and Pavilion information: Call 1-888-432-2267 for reservation information. (Dan's Mountain State Park, c/o Rocky Gap State Park, 12500 Pleasant Valley Road, Flintstone, MD 21530; 301-722-1480)

PRIOR EVENTS 175th Anniversary of the Lonaconing Iron Furnace Iron Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing. Lonaconing Craft Fair and Yard Sales Iron Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing. Valley High School Alumni Association Celebration Valley High School. Music on the Mountain Swimming pool area, Dan's Mountain State Park; Sponsored by the Dan's Mountain Park Association. Firemen's Parade and Street Time Douglas Avenue Engine House; parade; Food, games, rides; fun for all ages. Night Swim Dan's Mountain State Park; Sponsored by the Dan's Mountain Park Association. George's Creek Campfire Sponsored by George's Creek Regional Library. George's Creek Days Lonaconing and throughout the valley of George's Creek, Allegany County, Maryland. Sunday in the Park Iron Furnace Park, Main Street, Lonaconing. Twenty-First Annual Iron Furnace Five Kilometer Run / 1.5 mile Fun Run Historic Car Cruise-In Westmar High School

Tourism Literature Maryland Coal Heritage Tour brochure -- www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/oed/scenicByways/Coal.pdf Lonaconing Maryland Iron Furnace Brochure Georges Creek Maryland History Exhibit Brochure