In 1839 Scranton started to manufacture iron, and began experimenting with the practicability of smelting ore by means of "hard" or anthracite coal in Slocum Hollow (now Scranton, Pennsylvania).
Scranton initiated iron production in 1839 and commenced investigating the potential of smelting ore with "hard" or anthracite coal at Slocum Hollow (which is now part of Scranton, Pennsylvania).