Joppa Iron Works

The Joppa Iron Works also known as Patterson's Iron Works was started around 1817 by Joseph and Edward Patterson of Baltimore who were the brothers of Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte- who was the sister-in-law of Napoleon I of France. Begun as a long calm portion of the Big Gunpowder River in eastern Baltimore County, MD this facility was started as a slitting and nail producing company. Located approximately .75 of a mile below the Maryland Route 7 this facility eventually had six puddling furnaces, one heating furnace, and 37 nail machines with all of the machinery being water-powered [p212, "From Pig Iron to Cotton Duck" Author John W. McGrain] . There are few remnants of the iron works that remain except for a large flat area where the business stood. Prior to the original dam being built at the Loch Raven Reservoir in 1881, the water depth at the Joppa Iron Works site was much deeper facilitating shipments in and out of the area by deep-water vessels. As late as the 1970s, an old ship's mooring ring was able to be seen in the area. Remnants of slag from the furnaces can still be found in the area.

The Joppa Iron Works eventually closed around 1865 with the death of Edward Patterson. The Loreley Distilling Company eventually purchased the property and distilled whiskey on the site after Prohibition, and eventually sold to the Frank L. Wight Distillery- a part of Hublein Co.

In 1970 This property was acquired by the Department of Parks and Recreation of Maryland and is now part of the Gunpowder State Park.

Literature

* John W. McGrain, "From Pig Iron to Cotton Duck Volume 1" Page 212-214 (Towson, MD 1985)

References