There's a rich history in the towns surrounding the Susquehanna River, and Rivertownes PA USA wants to preserve it. "Our mission is to cultivate art, heritage and recreation in the towns of Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville," said David Haneman, president of the nonprofit organization.

Founded in 2002, Rivertownes is an all-volunteer organization with a home base in the Musselman-Vesta Iron Furnace office building, 26 Furnace Road, Marietta. The furnace was built in 1867 by Henry Musselman and Henry Watts and was the last of the eight hot blast furnaces that lined the Susquehanna River between Marietta and Columbia. "The furnace used iron ore, limestone and anthracite coal as fuel, and they made pig iron," Haneman noted. It operated until the early 1930s, after which the office building was used as a residence and for storage before sitting empty for decades.

In 2003, members of Rivertownes saw the opportunity to restore the historic structure and create an educational center to tell the story of the iron industry in Lancaster County. "We spent 10 years restoring the building," Haneman said, explaing that the renovations included putting in new floors, a new roof, new windows and doors and a new HVAC system. The building now houses exhibits including an HO-scale diorama of the furnace complex, built by Haneman. In the fall of 2018, the Dr. June Evans Henry Clay Furnace Exhibit was dedicated, showcasing many of the artifacts found at the furnace during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Beyond the office building, Rivertownes works with other local organizations to promote the heritage of the region. Riverfest is held on the last Sunday of June, commemorating the 1863 burning of the covered bridge that spanned the Susquehanna River. The event features food, live music, re-enactments and more. "We hold a Pig Iron Fest at the end of September," Haneman noted of the event that celebrates the region's industrial heyday.

Walking tours showcasing the local iron furnace industry are also offered, and the organization has created a pocket guide for self-guided walks along the adjacent Northwest River Trail.

"We work with a number of other local organizations to promote our mission," Haneman said, specifically mentioning Marietta Art Alive! This group of local artists launched the inaugural River Towns Plein Air art show last spring. "Everything we do is meant to highlight the history of this region and encourage people to learn about what was here and the role the rivertowns played. It's important for people to know the history."

Rivertownes PA USA is always looking for new members and volunteers, Haneman said. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the furnace center. For more information, visit http://www.rivertownes.org or contact Haneman at hanemanartbach@gmail.com.