Spring House and Wash House at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Historical Furnace Village Main Page
The Spring House at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is thought to have been built in 1806. It was originally used exclusively to keep perishable products cold and as a source of cool drinking water. A spring with a constant temperature of 57º F flowed through the bottom, and to keep food products from spoiling quickly, they were stored partially submerged in the water.
Sometime before 1830, a second room was added that was used as a wash house for laundry (this is the southern section of the building with the chimney and doorway). Because it had a fireplace where water could be heated, the room was also used for processing meat, making soap from lard, and boiling apple butter.
Wash House section of the original Spring House at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
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Last updated on March 20, 2025
