The first project was completed in June 2002 and involved 9 volunteers working over a two-week period. Volunteers on this project were: David Hughes, Connie McElwain, Leon and Roselyn Dyer, Margaret Chambers, Lynette Taylor, John O'Toole, Erin Burnside, and Grant Quatermous. Some of the volunteers were experienced PIT veterans while others were PIT "rookies."

The project objective was to gain a better understanding of the lives of the people who worked in the iron industry in that area. Under the guidance of Bob Wise, Area Archaeologist, and Bill Sharp, an archaeologist from the Daniel Boone National Forest, volunteers dug 15 test pits that were one meter long, one meter wide, and varied in depth from two inches to almost three feet. The test pits, dug throughout the Center Furnace area, were used to verify locations of previously existing buildings, as well for discovering clues of daily life. Objects found by the volunteers included many everyday household goods typical of the period, such as plates, silverware, bridles, and horseshoes. Toys and decorative artifacts evoked the lives of the people who lived in the area when the furnace was in operation. These artifacts were collected, cleaned, and cataloged into a database. This information was then used to assist in documenting a request for the Center Furnace area to be listed as a National Historic District.

While the dig was occurring, visitors to LBL were invited to drop by, observe, and learn more about the history of the iron industry in the area. Special programs were offered at Woodlands Nature Station and The Homeplace - A Living History Farm that featured this period of industry at LBL as well as teaching visitors about the "processes" of archaeology.

The second project occurred during a two-week period in October 2003 and was focused in the site of the company general store. Seven volunteers, Thomas Clapp, Tammy Dohner, Richard and Donna Burns, Cindy Brummer, Diane Vanderpool, and Jonathan Vanderpool, assisted Bob Wise in verifying the exact location of the store and trying to gain insight into its past role as part of the community. Some of the objects discovered during this dig included antique nickels (coins that had fallen through the floorboards of the store and a lead weight that was used to measure dry goods.

Special programs were offered throughout LBL to highlight the area's history. Visitors to the Center Furnace area were also invited observe the "dig" and learn more about the iron industry and its impacts on the environment.

The PIT program is one of the most popular grassroots programs offered by the Forest Service. Hundreds of projects such as archaeological excavations, surveys, oral history collections, and historic structure restorations have been completed. YOU can be part of this program, too! To learn more about current projects and the volunteer application process, check out the PIT website at www.passportintime.com.

You can also learn more about the history of LBL by walking the short Center Furnace loop trail, visiting the exhibit at Golden Pond Visitor Center, exploring The Homeplace - A Living History Farm, or visiting the Great Western Furnace site. As you drive around LBL, you can also discover old home sites - look for single, large "shade trees," and remnants of foundations and driveways.

More historical information is located on these pages: Iron Ore Industry, Civil War, and The Homeplace.