Restoration Underway at W.A. Young Foundry & Machine Shop

Greene County’s only National Historic Landmark is undergoing a facelift. New windows and frames, as well as siding are being replaced in an effort to restore the shops façade – and keep the valuable contents inside safe.

The restoration is possible because of a $65,000 state grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp., the current owners of the foundry. The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant will be used toward Phase 3 of the historic restoration of W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, located in Rices Landing.

The repairs of the windows and siding are very much needed, shared George “Bly” Blystone, the foundry’s caretaker and often tour guide.

“The windows and siding on this side were so bad that in the winter when it snowed, the snow would just blow into the shop and cover the machines,” Bly said. The new grant will correct that with new siding, window frames and restored vintage window glass that will keep the snow out and – a bonus – be able to be opened. About 75% of the windows will be replaced.

“The old windows couldn’t be opened because they were in such bad shape,” Gary Shriver, a blacksmithing friend of Bly’s and fellow foundry enthusiast, said. “It can get pretty hot here in the summer when you can’t get any air.”

William A. Young opened the machine shop in 1900; in 1908, the foundry was added, and then electric added in 1928. All equipment located in the foundry dates from 1870 to 1920. An elaborate system of belts and pulleys spread throughout the shop runs 25 pieces of machinery, each independent of the other and fully operational, originally operated by steam and now gasoline.

The foundry closed in 1965 and sat neglected until 1985, when the Greene County Historical Society purchased it. Repairs were made and it was opened to the public. In 1998, the foundry was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the historical society turned over the foundry to non-profit Rivers of Steel and extensive repairs were made, including a new roof. Last year, the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry & Machine Shop was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Construction has been on-going in small steps to keep the foundry in good repair. Phase 1, initially meant to replace windows and siding discovered structural issue that needed to be address first. A new block footer fixed a failing foundation on the side of the foundry, partial new siding and letters, as well as new supports and a new truss, improved the structure and appearance. Phase 2 was completed last winter; the light well was improved, receiving a new gutter and downspouts, and the wall repaired.

“Termites had damaged the wall, which twisted a beam that supported the roof,” Bly informed me. After the repairs, he stained the new wood to blend in with the old, making the repairs blend in to the original structure.

As we walked through the foundry, Bly pointed out some of the previous repairs and some of the current work that was underway. His current project was trying to find a paint color that would match the original siding. The colors previously picked just weren’t quite a match.

“It’s been crazy trying to match the colors, but I think we finally found one,” he said then added with a smile. “I keep an eye on it and let them know how I feel.”

“We will always be looking for money to stabilize it and keep it moving forward,” said Ron Baraff, Director of Museums and Archives for Rivers of Steel. “We honored to be a part of it and to keep it preserved.”

After its restoration and under Bly’s watchful eye and loving care, W.A. Young Foundry and Machine Shop will surely be around to educate for another 100 years.

Published in August 2018 GreeneScene Magazine.