Public Notice
Homestead, PA (May 30, 2025)—The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation (RSHC), in Homestead, Pennsylvania, a Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building grant (CHA-286629-24) for the restoration of the Carrie Blast Furnaces Stove Deck/Purification Deck and the Stock House/Trestle.
The proposed project will take place within the Rivers of Steel Museum site, home to the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces, located at 623 E 8th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120. The Carrie Blast Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark (NHL) site and one of the last vestiges of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage and of early 20th century US industrial culture. The site is one of the last pre-World War II furnaces of their kind in the US.
The project will take place at the Carrie Blast Furnaces 6 and 7. All work will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Preservation. Work involves:
Stock house raw material storage bins:
* Bin wall replacement shall be performed in kind where excessive section loss and holes exist. These plate walls shall be removed and replaced with weathering steel.
* Vertical buck staves that reinforce the bin walls shall be replaced only where section loss is greater than 30% of the original section area. The new material shall be ASTM A588 steel and be welded back with E8018 welding metal. Welds shall be ground flush and cleaned to appear as original.
* Horizontal supports “Whalers” shall be shored from below or hung form above while repairs to the bin walls and buck staves are being performed. Should these members have section loss section loss is greater than 30% of the original section area. The new material shall be ASTM A588 and be welded back with E8018 welding metal. Welds shall be ground flush and cleaned to appear as original.
Stock house steel lintel supporting masonry:
* Steel lintel replacement shall be performed as outlined within the plans. This lintel replacement shall also comply to the weathering steel requirements outlined above.
* Any masonry that must be removed to accommodate these repairs shall be cleaned and placed back utilizing the special mortar mix provided by Rivers of Steel.
Highline railing and walkway repairs:
* Inspection and repair/replacement in kind of all elevated walkways and railings. Corten steel will be used for all replacement materials.
Support steel for Skipp #6 that ties and enters the stock house:
* The steel support system that connects to the stock house and is the primary means of support for Skipp #6 is in failure. Temporary shoring has been installed to provide support for a short period of time until replacement can be performed.
* This replacement includes the columns, beam and bracing between the stock house and the blast furnace as well as the columns within the stock house. This structure is integral to the stock house and its major components.
* The replacement steel (Corten) shall be in kind with the material grade exception applying.
* Rivets will be used where both faces of the fasteners are visible. Weathering type tension control (rivet head) can be used where only the rivet head is visible.
On May 21, 2025, Barbara Frederick, Environmental Review Division Manager with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) provided a determination of no adverse effect to historic properties.
After reviewing Section 106 documentation and SHPO finding, NEH issues a determination of no adverse effect to above ground historic properties.
