A display highlighting three local forges - Windsor Forge, Poole Forge and Spring Grove Forge - is currently being featured at the Caernarvon Historical Society building, 2148 Main St., Narvon. The public is invited to view the display, which will be open on Sunday, Sept. 28, from noon to 4 p.m.

Society president Yvonne Styer explained that forges were used to heat pig iron from local furnaces to make it more malleable. "The forges purchased pig iron from the furnaces, and they pounded it (out). They processed it," she explained. "The flat iron was given to the blacksmith or taken to Philadelphia to sell. The blacksmiths used (the metal) to make horseshoes, nails and pots and pans."

"The pig iron was delivered to the forges by a horse-drawn wagon that was specially built for handling iron," added society member William Shirk.

Several pieces of the flattened pig iron are part of the display. "We also have a map of where all the furnaces and forges are located that are in this area," said Styer, noting the map includes Joanna Furnace in Geigertown, Hopewell Furnace in Elverson and Reading Furnace.

"We have tons of pictures. We have no photos of the actual Windsor Forge, but we have a picture of a stone that came out of it," she noted. "Windsor Forge was owned by William Branson first. His daughter and her husband ran the forge for a period of time. Then, the Jenkins family acquired the forge. David Jenkins, the son of Robert Jenkins, was the first one who operated the forge. He worked for Branson, and he kept buying shares for the forge and ended up buying it."

On display is a carving of a lion's head completed by Blanche Nevin, granddaughter of Robert Jenkins and the daughter of Franklin & Marshall College president John Williamson Nevin.

"She had a lion's head at each corner of the bottom of the bed. Scott Martin allowed us to display it," Styer said, noting that in addition to painting and writing poetry, Blanche was one of the few women sculptors of her time. She is known for her sculpted "Lion in the Park" at Reservoir Park and the horse drinking fountain, both located in Lancaster.

The exhibit also features paintings of the forges and the ironmaster's mansions, some by Morgantown artist Jere Brady; old ledgers; and photographs. Styer noted that the Spring Grove Forge Mansion is now privately owned.

The display features photos of Poole Forge, including a 3D map of the site, which includes the ironmaster's mansion, the paymaster's house, two tenant houses and the covered bridge.

"We have photos of Poole Forge when it was first purchased by the township, including the playground when it was first built," Styer noted.

Visitors may spend as much time as they want going through all the exhibits during the upcoming open house. "If you go through and read all the documents, you will be here for quite a while," Styer said with a smile.

Visitors may also notice the society's new flag that features a Welsh dragon that was created in honor of its 50th anniversary.