EPISODE · Jun 29, 2026 · 58 MIN
The Hessian Ditch at Elizabeth Furnace
from Uncharted Lancaster · host Adam Zurn
In this episode, we explore the Hessian Ditch at Elizabeth Furnace in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a remarkable hand-dug canal carved through stone during the Revolutionary War by captured German soldiers. The story connects geology, ironmaking, and wartime necessity, showing how the ditch was built to divert water and power the furnace that supplied the Continental Army with munitions. Along the way, the episode traces the rise and fall of the flamboyant ironmaster Henry William Stiegel, the pragmatic success of Robert Coleman, and the harsh reality faced by the Hessian prisoners whose labor reshaped the landscape. It also follows the site into the present, where the restored furnace estate now hosts elegant events while the overgrown trench still survives in the nearby woods as a largely hidden reminder of war, labor, and survival.
What this episode covers
In this episode, we explore the Hessian Ditch at Elizabeth Furnace in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a remarkable hand-dug canal carved through stone during the Revolutionary War by captured German soldiers. The story connects geology, ironmaking, and wartime necessity, showing how the ditch was built to divert water and power the furnace that supplied the Continental Army with munitions. Along the way, the episode traces the rise and fall of the flamboyant ironmaster Henry William Sti...
NOW PLAYING
The Hessian Ditch at Elizabeth Furnace
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.