Oldtown in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Laurel Furnace
⎯⎯⎯
Iron Made In Kentucky
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
1. Laurel Furnace side of marker
Laurel Furnace. Built 4 miles west by George and Samuel Wurts in 1849. The bottom half of the stack, originally 39 feet high, is carved from one block of stone cliff. Maximum inner diameter 10½ feet. It made 2150 tons of iron in 31 weeks of 1855, consuming 376,250 bushels of charcoal fuel. The last blast was in 1874.
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 1967 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and Armco Steel Corp. (Marker Number 1019.)
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. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. 38° 26.436′ N, 82° 53.894′ W. Marker is in Oldtown, Kentucky, in Greenup County. It is
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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs (a few steps from this marker); Oldtown Covered Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hopewell Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs (approx. 1.8 miles away); Buffalo Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 2.8 miles away); Greenup County's Crowning Jewel (approx. 2.8 miles away); Greenbo Lake State Resort Park (approx. 2.8 miles away); E. K. Railway Hunnewell (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oldtown.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 19, 2022
2. Iron Made In Kentucky side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
3. Laurel Furnace and Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs Markers
via 30 Days of Kentucky Archaeology, unknown
4. Iron Furnaces of Kentucky.
30 Days of Kentucky Archeology website entry:
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,222 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on December 6, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on November 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 11, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear, full photo of the Iron Made in Kentucky side of the marker. • Can you help?
