Pine Grove Furnace (Broad Creek, Del.)

Pine Grove Furnace was one of the earliest iron-making enterprises in Delaware. It was constructed on the site of present-day Concord in Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex County between 1765 and 1767 by Abraham Mitchel & Company. The firm included Thomas and William Lightfoot of Philadelphia as junior partners. It held over 6,000 acres of land rights including bog ore deposits and also erected grist and sawmills. Samuel and Walter Franklin of New York were admitted to the firm in 1768, and Walter Franklin bought out the other partners in 1773. Operations were halted by the Revolution, and Walter Franklin died in New York City behind British lines in 1778. The property was divided and sold by his heirs.