“The Colemans and Martic Forge,” a talk on the historical ties of the ironworks industry in Lancaster County to the Coleman family, is set to take place Tuesday evening, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m.
The Cornwall Iron Furnace Associates president, Jim Polczynski, will lead the discourse in-person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor, and virtually via Zoom.
The lecture will delve into the history of iron-making in Martic Township, with an emphasis on the Coleman family’s role in the operation and ownership of Martic Forge. Renowned industrialist Robert Coleman, owner of Cornwall Iron Furnace, was instrumental in Martic Forge’s history. He ultimately passed control of the forge to his nephew, Edward Brien, reacquired it upon Brien’s untimely death, and left the ironworks to be managed by his sons and grandsons after his death in 1825.
Polczynski, a consulting knowledge engineer with a rich history with companies like Bethlehem Steel and Lukens Steel, has a deep-seated interest in Lebanon and Cornwall’s iron and steel industry. His book, Souls of Iron, tells the compelling story of the Coleman iron dynasty. The book is available for purchase online and at the Cornwall Iron Furnace Museum store.
Read More: Local author’s new book covers over 150 years of Coleman family history
The event will take place both physically in the auditorium of Freeman Hall, located at 1 Boyd St., Cornwall, and online using the Zoom platform. Registration is required due to limited space availability, with the lecture offered at no cost. Donations, however, are appreciated.
Accompanying the lecture is a mid-nineteenth-century painting of Martic Forge, which showcases the forge’s historical significance. This painting is part of the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s collection, and only the stone house depicted in the background still stands today.
For more information and to register, please contact the Cornwall Iron Furnace Associates.
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