Update November 25, 2025-
We were notified by Keith Hockman that there is a petition going around pertaining to the cleanup effort at Catherine Furnace. The name of the petition is called “Save The Restoration of Catherines Furnace Page County Va.” Follow this link to view and sign the petition”
Save The Restoration of Catherines Furnace Page County Va
The petition reads:
“Y’all, I need a little help here!!
Most of you know that we spent our summer either in the hayfield or in the mountain clearing Catherines Furnace. We’ve all put in over 300 hours. Picking up trash, removing sticker bushes, painting the bridge, etc. In hopes of saving a historic landmark in our little county. I’m 47 years old and had never seen the 3 rock walls before. My daddy rode that backroad religiously every weekend when we were little! We’ve put a lot of blood and sweat here Let’s not even mention the amount of $$ spent out of our pockets!
Now we’ve been told we have to remove all of it by 12/1. The picnic table, grill, and benches. The United States flag and even the beloved outhouse (there was an existing one from years ago)
Why?? We don’t have a reason because they can’t give us one!
There’s been people who has stopped and thanked us for cleaning up the place. They’ve noticed the hard work we done for FREE! People visit, people set around and enjoy a nice fire and a hotdog. People actually talk to each other. Because there’s no cell service there. They come from all over to see it!
Help us to continue. We’re not asking for donations. We’re asking to be able to keep our little area looking nice. Give our little county something FREE to be proud of! If Massanutten can put it on their maps then let’s put it on a map proudly!!”
End of November 25, 2025 update.
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Update as of October 5, 2025 per Keith Hockman, the cleanup process is on hold at the Catherine furnace in cub run until the shut down is over with the government.
In June this year we were happy to share with you the cleanup efforts being taken place at Catherine Furnace. The effort was led by Keith Hockman and a few other volunteers. After many years of vegetation growth, this area was way over due for a good cleanup!
We revisited the furnace area a few days ago on August 7, 2025 and saw that the volunteers had not rested but continued to make great landscaping improvements around the furnace!
Since our last visit Keith has added a gravel walk path with gravels he transported to the site in five-gallon buckets.
A small log corner fence had been added to the left front side of the furnace.
Keith and volunteers continued their clearing of brush around the creek area and around the rock walls on the other side of the creek. Looking around the site now, one can start to imagine how the area was laid out back when they were making iron ore. One can plainly see the two rock walls and see that this area is looking more and more like the Catherine Furnace model that is still on display at the Shenandoah Community Library.
Comments from many that have visited the historic furnace site lately, state that it is now the cleanest that they have ever saw it look!
Below are two links for previous articles we have done about Catherine Furnace which contain before and after pictures. The second article is about the Catherine Furnace model that is currently on display at the Shenandoah Community library at 418 South Third Street in Shenandoah Va.
Catherine Furnace Area Is Being Cleaned Up By Volunteers
Catherine Furnace Model at Shenandoah Library
Catherine Furnace is located in George Washington National Forest, just follow Newport Road (State Route 685) from Route 340 to cub Run Road.
Physical Coordinates: 38.557502, -78.635560
Physical Coordinates: 38.557502, -78.635560
