Historic Name

Erie City Iron Works

Address

East Avenue

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

15020040010600

Historic District

East 12th Street HD

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

101805

Historic Function

Industry - manufacturing facility

Style

Other

Built

0

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

7/24/2016

Originally founded as the Presque Isle Foundry in 1840, the company originally produced plows, stove pots, and kettles. In 1844, the Presque Isle Foundry produced their first steam engine and boiler, indicative of an emerging boom in that sector of Erie manufacturing. By 1851, the name was changed to Erie City Iron Works as the company expanded its product line to include freight cars, circular saw mills, and cannon balls. In 1859, the Erie City Iron Works produced an engine and boiler that was used in drilling the world’s first successful oil well at Drake’s Well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. This historic contribution to the first commercially successful oil well in the world led Erie City Iron Works into playing an important role in the oil industry boom that occurred soon after. In 1866, George Selden and John H. Bliss became co-owners of the Iron Works, who enjoyed years of good fortune—owed in no small part to the oil boom.

Erie City Iron Works continued to make steam engines, boilers, and succeeded in securing a contract for the first standpipe for the Erie City Water Works. Selden, who became president of the company in 1898, was instrumental in the continuing success of the Erie City Iron Works by making sales trips around the world and drafting plans for the company to produce its first hydraulic riveter. After World War I, the company began to make boilers alone, and also began using coal- pulverizing technology. Through the early 1940s, Erie City Iron Works supplied boilers for the American war effort in World War II.

In 1966, Zurn Industries acquired The Erie City Iron Works, in the process creating its Zurn Energy Division. It was then purchased by Aalborg Industries in 1997. They continued to make boilers, but added the manufacture of heat recovery steam generation for diesel engines and gas turbines. In 2004, the Indeck Group acquired the company in a bankruptcy sale.

Sources:

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Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.

Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office