Fitchburg in Estill County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Fitchburg Furnace
June 26, 2015
1. Fitchburg Furnace Marker
The casting house was a wooden shed, which covered the sand moulds where the iron was run. Note the depression in the stone directly above the archway, which probably held the roof of the shed. Long trenches, sloping gradually from the front of the furnace, were made of moulding sand with enough clay to permit their being moulded to the desired shape. When the iron was ready to be drawn, a worker with long handled tongs would grasp the clay plug in the damstone, and with a skilled twist, removed it. The molten metal shot out of the opening, filling the main feeder trench. As this trench filled, guttermen diverted the molten iron into side trenches, forming a series of bars from 4 to 6 feet long and from 60 to 250 pounds each. Bars from the main trench were "sows", while bars from the side trenches were "pigs", hence, the term "pig iron".Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 37° 43.984′ N, 83° 51.163′ W. Marker is in Fitchburg, Kentucky, in Estill County. Marker can be reached
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Fitchburg Furnace (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fitchburg Furnace (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fitchburg Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fitchburg Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Red River Iron Works / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 3.1 miles away); Estill Springs (approx. 6.9 miles away); Estill Seminary / Collegiate Institute (approx. 7 miles away); County Named, 1808 (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fitchburg.
Regarding Fitchburg Furnace. Red River Iron Furnace is #74000860 on the National Register of Historic Places.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Additional keywords. Red River Iron Furnace
June 26, 2015
2. Fitchburg Furnace
June 26, 2015
3. Fitchburg Furnace
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2019. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 30, 2019. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
