Greene County tourists interested in industrial history have this weekend and a few more chances to visit the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop before the site closes for the season. 

Rivers of Steel has been operating since 1988. According to Rivers or Steel’s website, when it was first created, a group of citizens was concerned about the destruction of mills. They feared that the destruction of history and culture would accompany the physical destruction. Now, the company works to conserve the culture and history through exhibition programs.

The website states that the site has tours this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13. Other tour dates before they close for the season are the last two Sundays in October and the four Sundays of November, according to the Rivers of Steel website calendar, where visitors can,“step back in time to the early 1900s and discover the artistry of handcrafted manufacturing.”

Guests can expect a tour through the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop that was built in the 1900s and thoroughly used until 1965 when it was closed and locked up. Guests can also expect a live demonstration of the machines that were once used to produce parts for steamboats, coal mines, railroads, and more.

“The Machine Shop is a one-of-a-kind historical treasure. It truly is like stepping back in time. Through our tours program, we hope to introduce people to a piece of our region’s industrial history and to create context for what they are seeing—in order to understand just why it is so special,” said Carly McCoy, the director of marketing and communications.

McCoy emphasized how important it is to visit the Machine Shop and get a true understanding of how impactful it once was for the surrounding community. 

Her coworker, TJ Porfeli, the site manager and program lead for W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, added to this saying, “I will say, visiting the site and taking it all in in person is everything. It’s not just a tour, but an experience.” 

The W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop had been under the ownership and management of The Greene County Historical Society until 2009 when the Rivers of Steel took over. 

“Regularly scheduled tours have been offered on Sundays, from late April Through mid-November, since late 2020,” said McCoy.

Tours are limited to 10 participants and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $10 a person and will be required, but not sold, at the door.

The tour is located in Rices Landing, Greene County. It is advised on the website to dress for the weather, as the building is not temperature controlled. Guests should also note that the ground and flooring are uneven and that open-toe shoes and high heels are prohibited. Additionally, the duration of the tour is about one hour, and photography is permitted. However, videography and drones are prohibited.

Rivers of Steel offers more than just the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop tour. According to their website Rivers Of Steel offers workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and other events throughout the year.

Along with these other opportunities, they offer tours at different locations other than the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop. Those who are interested can schedule a tour for the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark. These tours can be during the day or night, and visitors can tour the graffiti collection at the Furnaces.

Porfeli added, “We also have a yearly festival called the Hammer-In Festival. This has been happening at the site for 36 years. Blacksmiths from PA, West Virginia and Ohio demonstrate their skills and the festival offers so much more as well.”
More information about the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop tour, other tours, or events can be found on the Rivers Of Steel’s website (riversofsteel.com) and the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency (visitgreene.org).