Near Cedar Bluff in Cherokee County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Cornwall Furnace Memorial Park
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 12, 2020
1. Cornwall Furnace Memorial Park Marker
The furnace was constructed 1862-1863 by the Nobles Brothers Foundry from Rome, GA using financing from the Confederate States of America. Slave labor was used to dig a half mile canal upstream to the Chattooga River, which powered the airblast. A tunnel was dug through the ridge upon which you stand, that allowed the canal to come out on the south side of the furnace stack. The furnace was partially destroyed in 1864 by United States troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman. The furnace remained closed until it was rebuilt and put back into blast in 1867. The furnace was blown out permanently in 1875. The site was preserved by jungle like conditions for the next century.
The Cherokee County Historical Society, spearheaded by society president, Colonel Robert N. Mann, sought for 15 years to have the site preserved and restored. Cornwall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and the site was purchased by the county in 1975 with gifts from approximately 900 donors. The soil conservation district, using CETA funds and unemployed labor, cleared the site and transformed it into a park. The site is dedicated to the memory of county service men and women of all wars 1775-present. The unanimous endorsement and cooperation of our county commissioners (Ralph Meade (president), G.T. Adams, Sidney E. Davis,
this page online
Erected by Cherokee County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 34° 14.833′ N, 85° 35.297′ W. Marker is near Cedar Bluff, Alabama, in Cherokee County. Marker is on County Road 251, 0.1 miles north of County Road 714, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 County Road 251, Cedar Bluff AL 35959, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cherokee County Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Cornwall Furnace (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Cornwall Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Long Shadows House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Chattooga River (approx. 1.9 miles away); Gaylesville (approx. 2 miles away); Indian Village of Costa (approx. 2.1 miles away); Occupation of Gaylesville (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cedar Bluff.
Also see . . . Cornwall Furnace (Cedar Bluff, Alabama). Wikipedia entry:
The furnace is across the road from the marker. (Submitted on September 16, 2020.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 12, 2020
2. Cornwall Furnace Memorial Park Marker
via NPS, unknown
3. Cornwall Furnace
National Register of Historic Places Digital Archive website entry
(Submitted on September 15, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on June 23, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on September 16, 2020. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
