Princess in Boyd County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Princess Furnace
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Iron Made in Kentucky
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
1. Princess Furnace side of marker
Princess Furnace. Built here in 1876-77 by Thomas W. Means (1803-90), for 50 years the leading figure in the iron industry of this area, owner of furnaces in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama. This iron-jacketed stack burned “stone coal” because Buena Vista furnace nearby had used all the charcoal timber on 6000 acres. Last blast 1878.
Iron Made in Kentucky. A major producer since 1791, Kentucky ranked 3rd is U.S. in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, and Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads.
Erected 1968 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and Armco Steel Corp. (Marker Number 1135.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists.
Location. 38° 23.263′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Kyova Tri-State Region. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Buena Vista Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 1.2 miles away); Clinton Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 3 miles away); Star Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 3.8 miles away); Boyd County War Memorial (approx.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
2. Iron Made in Kentucky side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
3. Princess Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 842 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
