The company was at its height in the 1870s , under the long-term leadership of general manager Daniel Johnson Morrell , who had overseen the works expansion into one of the largest producers of rails in the United States , helping to end dependence on British railroad construction imports . He was a member of the 40th United States Congress and 41st United States Congress . The Johnstown Flood of May 31 , 1889 was caused by the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam , killing more than 2,200 people ; it was then the largest disaster in U.S. history . The flood badly damaged the company 's facilities . Cambria Iron Company reopened on June 6 , 1889 , and continued to operate independently , though eclipsed in size by other producers , following the flood
Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
Cambria Iron Company