AREA HISTORY:  Iron Ore, Windsor Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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IRON ORE INTERESTS – Page 727

Windsor, as well as its neighbors, York, Hellam and Lower Windsor, has valuable veins of iron 
ore.  Samuel Hengst’s bank was opened about twelve years ago, and 3,050 tons of brown hematite 
taken out.  Moser’s new bank, near Longstown, was opened in 1866 by Mr. Myers of Marietta, and 
considerable buff limonite secured.  Near the York and Windsor line is Moser’s old bank, four 
miles southeast of York.  It was opened about sixty years ago by the York Furnace Company, and 
worked second by John A. Wright & Co., third by Schoenberger, Musselman & Co., in 1850; fourth 
by Musselman & Sons.  Since 1850 there were 42,090 tons of lump and wash ore obtained from this 
bank and reduced in the Musselman Furnace at Marietta.  The bank is nearly 300 yards long, and 
the excavation of great size.  The best ore here makes forty per cent metallic iron.

What is known as Ore Valley, extending into York Township, has yielded ore in large quantities 
at different places.