Maintenance Assistant

Roll up your sleeves and put on your work boots for this hidden gem in the National Park Service!

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (HOFU) preserves and interprets an early American iron-making community and its effect on the nation’s industrial history. The historic village includes the charcoal-fueled furnace, Ironmaster’s mansion, tenant houses, and a blacksmith shop. We are one of the few parks that have an active farm program, showcasing animals that would have historically called the furnace home. Programs and events vary throughout the year; these events include sheep shearing, charcoal making, Fourth of July celebration, living history demonstrations, apple picking in the historic orchard, and other seasonally-themed events.

Hopewell Furnace is a small park, protecting 848-acres of America’s industrial heritage. In addition to visitors exploring the historic village, we receive a number of visitors enjoying the resources at neighboring French Creek State Park, including hikers, campers, and daily recreational users.

Maintenance Assistants Volunteers gain first-hand knowledge about the day to day operations of a National Park Service historic site and the maintenance of historic structures. The maintenance staff at HOFU is small and depends on volunteer assistance to maintain the park properly. This position will work under the instruction of the Maintenance Staff, and duties are determined by staff needs and volunteer abilities and skill sets.

Duties of this position include:

• Janitorial Work (i.e. cleaning facilities, emptying garbage, etc.)
• Trash/litter pick-up
• Painting
• Repairing historic structures
• Maintaining cleanliness and safety of park grounds and facilities
• Assisting in maintenance of equipment as needed
• Historic orchard maintenance
• Minor electrical work
• Custodial work
• Use of some hand tools
• Provide assistance during special events, including set up and tear down of equipment, and coordinating with other park staff on event needs
• Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required
• Volunteers will be issued volunteer shirt(s) and hat but must provide their own pants, and must dress in appropriate attire for specific duty needs as per direction of Maintenance Staff  (ex: long sleeves, boots)

Skills & Qualifications Required:

• Must be able to lift 30 pounds
• Ability and interest to work a physical position in various weather environments
• Valid driver’s license is required, and volunteers may be required to operate park vehicles
• Minimum age 16
• Must possess reliable transportation to and from the park: there is no public transportation to the park

Volunteers are requested to work a minimum of eight (8) hours a month, sometimes on a weekend day. More hours may be available if requested by volunteer and schedules are flexible. Volunteers may be asked to help with special events, as their schedules allow.

If you have any questions, you may contact the park’s Volunteer Coordinator, Amanda Sherry, at (610) 582-8773 or by email at [email protected]. Mailing address: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520.