It's a festival with a funny-sounding name but an important connection to Marietta's industrial past — the Pig Iron Festival. The annual fall event stands as a testament to the once thriving anthracite iron industry that shaped this charming riverside community. At the heart of this celebration lies the Musselman-Vesta Furnace, a historic landmark that's been transformed to educate visitors about the area's iron industry heritage. Make plans to join in the Pig Iron Festival's activities and visit the furnace site when you stay with us at B.F. Hiestand House this September.
Dating back to the early 19th century, the iron industry played a pivotal role in shaping Marietta's identity and economy. Anthracite coal came here from the north by the Susquehanna River, the Pennsylvania Canal and railroads. Iron blast furnaces churned out pig iron that helped build a growing country at a time before steel was easily manufactured. Between 1845 and the end of the century, eight furnaces operated in the area between Marietta and Columbia, earning this area the nickname "The Pittsburgh of the East."
One of those furnaces was the Musselman-Vesta Furnace. Built in 1868, it was expanded several times to increase its size and output. By the late 1880s, the furnace was producing 22,500 tons of pig iron. The pig iron produced in the area's furnaces was used by local rolling mills to make rails for the growing railroad industry. The Musselman-Vesta Furnace ceased production in 1930, making it the last of the area's furnaces to close.
After decades of neglect, Rivertownes PA USA oversaw the restoration and preservation of the furnace to create an educational center with artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the Susquehanna River's iron towns. The educational center is open to the public Sunday afternoons from April through October. The building is strategically located at the western gateway to the Chickies Rock County Park, a natural starting place for those who visit the park or follow the Northwest River Trail. And it just happens to be about a half-mile from our historic bed-and-breakfast.
More than 150 years after the Musselman-Vesta Furnace was built, the community still celebrates its role in the Industrial Revolution and Marietta's early prosperity. The Pig Iron Festival is held annually on the last Saturday of September and is sponsored by the Donegal Rotary Club. In 2023, the 18th annual festival is set for September 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Community Bible Church. While there's a focus on the historic aspects, the day-long event is full of fun as well, with antiques, arts and crafts, food, live music, hayrides and entertainment. There's also a car show with classic, antique and street rod vehicles. Of course, you also can partake in history tours that include viewing the furnace ruins and historic displays at the Musselman-Vesta Iron Furnace Center.
The Pig Iron Festival is a celebration that not only pays homage to Marietta's iron industry heritage, but brings people together for a day of fun and community. The festival and the furnace itself serve as bridges between generations, connecting the past with the present and ensuring that the story of Marietta's industrial heritage continues to shine brightly.
