Near Dover in Stewart County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Bear Spring Furnace

Photographed By Shane Oliver, April 11, 2021

1. Bear Spring Furnace Marker

Inscription. Joseph and Robert Woods and Thomas Yeatman built the first charcoal cold-blast furnace here in 1830. It used brown hematite ore from local deposits. Destroyed by Union forces in 1862, the present stack was built in 1873, with a railroad to Tennessee Ridge, on the route of the present highway. Operations here were discontinued in 1901.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3C 30.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 36° 28.56′ N, 87° 45.149′ W. Marker is near Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. Marker is on State Highway 49, one mile west of Cross Creek Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2419 TN 49, Dover TN 37058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Withdrawal From Donelson (approx. 4.2 miles away); 13,000 Prisoners (approx. 4.8 miles away); Dover Hotel (approx. 4.8 miles away); C.S.A. Headquarters (approx. 4.8 miles away); Colonel Thomas J. Davidson's Brigade

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(approx. 4.8 miles away); Rice House (approx. 4.8 miles away); Surrender House (approx. 4.8 miles away); a different marker also named Rice House (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

Also see . . . Stewart County. Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail page on the history of Stewart County's iron industry, including the Bear Spring furnace. (Submitted on September 8, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 6, 2020

2. Bear Spring Furnace Marker

Year Erected Stone on Bear Spring Furnace image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, April 11, 2021

3. Year Erected Stone on Bear Spring Furnace

This stone is located at the bottom right corner of the side of the furnace facing the marker.

Side of Bear Spring Furnace facing TN-49 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, April 11, 2021

4. Side of Bear Spring Furnace facing TN-49

Notice the inscribed bricks, one of which reads: “Woods, Yeatman & Co.”

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 334 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 28, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 8, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on May 28, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.