Rockcastle in Trigg County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Empire Furnace
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Iron Made in Kentucky
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2019
1. Empire Furnace Marker (Side 1)
Empire Furnace
Stood 1 mile west. Built 1843 by Thomas Tennessee Watson, it was a brick stack with a maximum inner diameter of 91/2 ft., 35 ft. high. It burned charcoal fuel, and its air blast was powered by steam. In 45 weeks of 1856, made 1836 tons of pig iron. Operations transferred to Center Furnace in 1861 because of floods, Civil War military actions.
Iron Made in Kentucky
A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US 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, Green River Regions. Charcoal-furnace era ended in 1880s with depletion of ore and timber and use of modern methods. Over.
Erected 1970 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1357.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. 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 1843.
Location. 36° 53.854′ N, 87° 56.329′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase. It is also in the American Midwest, in the South, and specifically in the Upper South. 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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Center Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (a few steps from this marker); Trigg Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (within shouting distance of this marker); Tenn. Rolling Mills (approx. 4.4 miles away); Site of Burnett Home (approx. 6.1 miles away); County Named, 1820 (approx. 6.1 miles away); Trigg County War Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away); Courthouse Burned
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2019
2. Empire Furnace Marker (Side 2)
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2019
3. Empire Furnace Marker
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2019
4. Empire Furnace Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2019, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 618 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 16, 2019, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
