SAUGUS — Saugus Iron Works, a national historic site, held its annual iron pour on Sunday afternoon, where spectators were treated to a recreation of cast iron production, much like they would have seen there in the 17th century.
“When you see molten iron, it’s pretty spectacular,” said Paul Kenworthy, a park ranger at Saugus Iron Works. “It’s not something you see every day.”
Saugus Iron Works is a reconstruction of the first successful, integrated iron works in the New World, which produced wrought iron and cast iron products from 1646 to 1670. The site is considered the birthplace of the iron and steel industry in Colonial America, according to a history on the National Park Service website.
In 1968, the site was renamed Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site and became part of the National Park System.
Kenworthy said demonstrators were casting iron in a little cupola furnace. He said they were melting some iron and pouring it into molds to make cast iron items a lot like they did 350 years ago, but on a much smaller scale.
Kenworthy said about 50 pounds of iron was melted during the demonstration with the cupola, and spectators were able to see what it actually takes to cast iron. Behind the demonstration area, he said there is a replica blast furnace on site, which can hold five tons of raw material.
During the demonstration, Kenworthy said iron was poured out of the cupola furnace into a little bucket called a crucible, and carried over and poured into molds, which will harden into small versions of the kinds of things that would have been made. He said demonstrators aimed to pour as fast as they can because iron cools down really fast.
Kenworthy said 350 years ago, workers would have been melting half a ton of iron, or 1,000 pounds, every 12 hours using a furnace.
On Sunday, he said the molds were going to be miniature replicas of firebacks, as a full-size fireback would be more than 100 pounds. Also being made were National Park Service medallions, which feature the bison symbol, and will be used as service awards for National Park Service employees. The miniature firebacks will be used as decorations at Iron Works.
Sarah Mayer, 27, of Billerica, came with her boyfriend to the event and said she was looking forward to watching demonstrators cast the molds.
“We actually came here last weekend,” she said. “We figured we’d come down and see the live event.”
George Perkins, 60, of Cambridge, made the trip with his wife.
“We’ve known about this event for years and have always wanted to come,” he said. “Last year, it was rained out so we’re really happy to be here today.”
