Martha Furnace, named after his daughter Martha, was built by Roland Curtin, of Curtin Village, for his son James. James then built a large brick home, with 6 bedrooms and 2 kitchens, in 1834, named Martha Furnace Mansion, which is today a completely restored Bed and Breakfast and a wedding venue, which will enable you to see one of the ironmasters mansions up close and person.
The furnace originally employed more than 50 men, but the expense of transporting ore over long distances and sending pig iron to the forge at Curtin Village, iron manufacturing at Martha proved not to be profitable. In 1848, the furnace was abandoned and eventually sold to Moses Thompson & Co., who put it into blast and operated it until 1855.