Making Iron on the Bald Eagle

Making Iron on the Bald Eagle, Volume 1, provides a detailed corporate and business history of the Eagle Ironworks in central Pennsylvania. This work of American history follows Irish immigrant Roland Curtin, who established a charcoal ironmaking operation in 1797. The narrative tracks the enterprise through four generations of the Curtin family, detailing the growth of one of Centre County's major industries from its inception until its closure in 1922.

This biography and industrial study examines the manufacturing process, from charcoal production to ore smelting. Gerald G Eggert analyzes the social aspects of the workers' village, contrasting the lifestyles of the employees with those of the owners. As a study of 19th century technology and engineering, the book illustrates the transition from preindustrial methods to modern production. It documents the rise and decline of charcoal-iron production within the United States.