Why are furnace ruins covered with dirt?

[manumuskin]

I was at Aetna and Cumberland furnaces today with Whipoorbill and a question came up.Why are they covered in dirt which someone went to great lengths to rmove at cumberland?I have found many ruins in the woods and most don"t seem to be nearl as covered over as these furnaces.They seem to be intentionally covered with dirt.Was it for insulation to hold in the heat?If not why?
Al

 

[bach2yoga]

I was at Aetna and Cumberland furnaces today with Whipoorbill and a question came up.Why are they covered in dirt which someone went to great lengths to rmove at cumberland?I have found many ruins in the woods and most don"t seem to be nearl as covered over as these furnaces.They seem to be intentionally covered with dirt.Was it for insulation to hold in the heat?If not why?
Al

Al, back in the 1940s the Cumberland stack was app 12-15 feet high; Aetna was still high at that point as well. The stack itself is what is out of the ground, the rest under.

Here's a picture that may help:

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Now, that said, here is an old map of Cumberland you may find interesting:

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Joe and I were out there yesterday with Alan Mounier, an archaeologist, further examining the grounds. Alan and I will be working on submitting this site as a national and state registered site; to date there are only 5 in NJ. I'll send you more information about it off list.

Renee