This novel began as an insane obsession to learn all there is to know about Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in southeastern Pennsylvania following my visit almost 40 years ago. After reading the scholarly book Hopewell Village: The Dynamics of a Nineteenth Century Iron-Making Community by Joseph E. Walker in which he describes every aspect of village life, I was intrigued by the unique history of the place, an iron-producing furnace fueled with charcoal. Operating in the 18th and 19th centuries, Hopewell was a self-sufficient society that revolved around the production of goods such as tools, cookware, and parts for Franklin stoves. During the Revolutionary War cannon and munitions were manufactured for the Continental Army and Navy, a treasonous endeavor.
At its peak, hundreds of people earned a living from Hopewell Furnace. Miners dug the magnetite (iron ore) and limestone, colliers produced charcoal from lumber cut from the vast surrounding forest, moulders constructed sand molds into which molten iron was poured, and teamsters drove the products to market with horse and wagon in all kinds of weather.
The Village boasts a mansion where the ironmaster and his family lived in luxury. Workers rented modest tenant houses on the property. At the company store, Hopewell farm-raised staples such as meat, vegetables, and fruits were available as well as hard to get fabric, sewing notions, coffee, and tea from the city. Parishioners worshipped at the church down the road.
In my book, Dreams of Revolution: A Novel, I imagined what life would be like for families who resided at Hopewell in the winter of 1777-1778 and created my heroine, Rachel Palsgrove. Her ambition to become a teacher takes her to Philadelphia where she tries to adapt to city life under perilous circumstances–British occupation during the war for independence.
I researched various city sights and events in late 18th century times:
- The College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania),
- Berry’s Tavern (which later became the King of Prussia Inn),
- Carpenters Hall, a grand example of building skills of the time and where wounded British soldiers recovered,
- The Library Company housing a book collection as well as its amazing Wonder Room,
- A concert featuring the ethereal sounding glass armonica,
- The despicable city jail,
- The raucous Tun Tavern, the birthplace of the US Marine Corps, and
- The glorious, extravagant Meschianza, the outrageous party the British threw for themselves before they left town.
Rachel’s struggles to survive throw her into the arms of Jesse Quinter, and despite tragedy in their lives, she ultimately discovers the true value in life — family.