About the event
The Thursday pour has been part of Millrace Week every year since 1958. It is the loud, public half of a tradition that starts with First Forge, the pewter casting new students do at orientation. A cupola furnace runs at about 2,700°F, metalcasting students in leathers tap it, and several hundred people watch from behind a rail.
This year’s iron is personal. When Heritage Hall’s bathrooms were gutted over the summer, crews pulled out 31 cast-iron radiators. About 1,100 pounds of that iron will become roughly 400 trivets in the shape of the Porter “P,” each stamped “HERITAGE 2026” on the back. The full story is in the October 5 news story.
Schedule
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30–8:00 p.m. | Engineering Express sells cider and coffee | Founders Hall east lobby |
| 6:00 p.m. | Doors open; alumni seating opens on the mezzanine | High bay |
| About 6:30 p.m. | First tap from the cupola | Behind the yellow rail |
| About 7:30 p.m. | Last ladle; molds cool overnight | High bay |
| Fri, Oct 16, 8:00 a.m. | Trivets on sale, limit two per person | Campus store, Founders Union |
Location and access
Use the east entrance of Founders Hall. Standing capacity is 450, and when the room fills the pour is shown live on the quad screen. Closed-toe shoes are required. Spectators stay behind the yellow rail, at least 30 feet from the furnace, under the supervision of Environmental Health & Safety. A step-free viewing area with seating is at the north end of the rail, and ear protection is offered at the door. The Forge Makerspace closes at 4 p.m. that day so its student mentors can staff the rail.
Tickets and registration
Free, with no registration. Alumni attending through Homecoming and reunions have reserved mezzanine seating. Trivets go first to current and former Heritage Hall residents, who reserve them through Alumni Relations. The rest are $25 at the campus store, and proceeds go to the student emergency fund.
Contact and related events
Questions about the pour go to the foundry lab, managed by Gordon Haugstad. On Friday, the Ring of Iron and pep rally follow, and the week ends with the Forge Bowl on Saturday.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. This pour, its furnace, its radiators and its trivets are invented. No iron will be melted on October 15, and no trivet can be reserved or bought.