Inside a nondescript brick building on a section of Johnstown’s Iron Street that doesn’t even appear on many maps, crews have spent years painstakingly restoring a relic of the city’s industrial heritage.
Their work is about to pay off.
A Chicago businessman is finalizing a deal with Johnstown Redevelopment Authority to turn the former Cambria Iron Co. blacksmith shop – which dates to the Civil War – into a working smithy.
The business would create a handful of jobs and breathe new life into a nationally registered historic structure that was nearly demolished in the 1990s.
“It’s an opportunity for visitors to come in here and see what a working blacksmith shop looks like,” said Debbie Walter, a redevelopment authority official.
Thomas Martin, who owns Antares Iron & Copper Inc., has made a name for himself as a “high-end” blacksmith in the Chicago area. But he originally is from McKees Rocks near Pittsburgh.
“For me, it’s kind of a homecoming to Pennsylvania,” Martin said of his interest in the Johnstown blacksmith shop.
While he hasn’t entered into a final lease agreement with the redevelopment authority, Martin has purchased a house in the city’s Moxham neighborhood.
He plans to maintain his Chicago business.
“Most of our work has been premium-market residential installations,” Martin said.
The Johnstown location, which would produce under the name Cambria Architectural Metalworkers, would focus on residential work as well as “specialty commercial” products, Martin said.
When production begins will depend in part on when renovations are finished at the blacksmith shop.
The facility, which employed 100 at its peak, turned out equipment and tools for the famed Cambria Iron Co., once the top rail producer in the nation.
Bethlehem Steel Corp. bought the Cambria Iron plant in the 1920s and operated it until 1992.
Bethlehem then began to demolish some of the complex, but local officials and preservationists intervened. Several structures, including the blacksmith shop, were donated to the redevelopment authority in 2001.
Other portions of the former “Lower Works” site now house businesses such as JWF Industries, Quality Refinishing, and Samuel, Son & Co.
But officials had a somewhat different plan for the blacksmith shop, which has been renovated at an estimated cost of $1.5 million.
A variety of experts, including a National Park Service masonry expert and a wood pathologist, have helped to preserve the original structure. At the same time, contractors have removed hazardous materials and poured new concrete floors.
The authority recently received two grants totaling $515,500 to fund the ongoing project.
Many pieces of heavy-duty equipment remain inside the shop, including a 10,000-pound steam hammer which has been donated to the Smithsonian Institution but is leased by the redevelopment authority.
Martin said some of the old machinery will be a part of his operation, although the Smithsonian’s steam hammer will not be used in any production.
“Most of the day-to-day practical work would be handled on other equipment that will be brought in,” he said.
Martin said plans to employ a minimum of 12 to 15 people at the Johnstown shop. Production there may not begin until late next year or in 2010.
“All of these projects require a lot of lead time,” he said.
Homepage
Related Photos
-
Bob Grata, a welder with J.C. Orr & Son of Altoona, works inside the former Cambria Iron Co. blacksmith shop in Johnstown near a 10,000-pound steam hammer on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. Todd Berkey
Discussion
Chicago-based blacksmith company plans to set up shop in city
- Tribune-Democrat News Slideshow
- Latest News
-
-
Sandusky asks for local jury; May trial date set
Jerry Sandusky says a local jury would be no more or less biased against him in his child sex abuse trial than a jury from anywhere else in Pennsylvania.
-
Feese gets 4-12 years for corruption
Brett Feese, a former Republican leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was sentenced today to four to 12 years in state prison and fined $25,000 for his role in a state corruption scandal.
-
Book honors Flight 93 co-pilot Homer
The widow of Flight 93 copilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. is releasing a book this month on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
-
- Local News
-
-
Lawsuit: Bedford County shooting not 'justified'
The widow of a man who a prosecutor determined committed “suicide by cop” by pointing a weapon at state police during a standoff is suing, claiming the shooting was not justified.
-
Book honors Flight 93 co-pilot Homer
The widow of Flight 93 copilot LeRoy W. Homer Jr. is releasing a book this month on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Lawsuit: Bedford County shooting not 'justified'
- Sports
-
-
Ex-Pirate Ludwick signs with Reds
The Reds have made a couple moves to improve their depth, finalizing a $2.5 million, one-year contract with outfielder Ryan Ludwick and a minor league deal with left-handed starter Jeff Francis.
-
NCAA proposes moving kickoffs from 30 to 35
The NCAA football rules committee has proposed moving kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 and to limit the running start by players on the kicking team to 5 yards as a way of keeping players safer.
-
Bedford goes to Class AA quarterfinals by thumping first-time participant Western Wayne
Bedford was making its fifth straight appearance in the PIAA Class AA Dual-Meet Championships on Thursday.
-
Steelers introduce Haley as offensive coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
College basketball in brief
A closer look at Thursday night's men's and women's college basketball games:
-
Ex-Pirate Ludwick signs with Reds
- Features
-
-
Events | Arts fitness
“Music and Art for Heart and Soul” will be held from 6 to 10 tonight at Art Works in Johnstown! 413 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.
- 'New York City Subway Idol' | Soul, rhythm and blues singer in concert Feb. 18 at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center
- All things afield at annual sportsmen's show
-
- Lifestyles
-
-
[VIDEO] A Stroke of Genius: Van Gogh exhibit opens at Art Museum
Vincent Van Gogh. The name conjures up images of bold, thick, swirly lines and stories of a man embroiled in deep turmoil.
In an exhibit currently showing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled “Van Gogh Up Close” through May 6, 46 of his paintings from the final four years of his life are on display, verifying his mastery of color and intensity, both in his professional and personal life.
- What was your favorite ad?
- Rapper flips bird during Super Bowl halftime show
-
- Multimedia
-
-
[VIDEO] A Stroke of Genius: Van Gogh exhibit opens at Art Museum
Vincent Van Gogh. The name conjures up images of bold, thick, swirly lines and stories of a man embroiled in deep turmoil.
In an exhibit currently showing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled “Van Gogh Up Close” through May 6, 46 of his paintings from the final four years of his life are on display, verifying his mastery of color and intensity, both in his professional and personal life.
- Video: Young bear, wolf play together
- [VIDEO] Cory Berchick sets Township school mark, but Somerset wins the match
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
