Valley Forge in Elizabethton in Carter County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

O'Brien Furnace

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 13, 2019

1. O'Brien Furnace Marker

Inscription. 1/2 mile E. of Valley Forge on Doe River are the ruins of an iron furnace built in 1820 by William B. Carter of Elizabethton. It was purchased in 1824 by James, John, and Joseph O'Brien and William Gott. They owned 9000 acres of land and operated the furnace, the Valley Forge, 2 bloomeries and a water-driven hammer. With slave labor they produced pig and bar iron until they sold their holdings to Nathaniel G. Taylor in 1861.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1A-73.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 36° 18.387′ N, 82° 11.585′ W. Marker was in Elizabethton, Tennessee, in Carter County. It was in Valley Forge. It was at the intersection of U.S. 19E and Mill Pond Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 19E. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 114 Valley Forge Christian Church Road, Elizabethton TN 37643, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in East Tennessee

and in the Tri-Cities Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Old Red Fox (within shouting distance of this marker); Elizabethton Blue Grays (approx. 2.7 miles away); Phillippi Missionary Baptist Church

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(approx. 2.8 miles away); Franklin House (approx. 2.9 miles away); Hunter Cottage (approx. 2.9 miles away); Covered Bridge (approx. 3 miles away); First Court West of the Alleghenies (approx. 3 miles away); Carter County's Train History (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elizabethton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. ET&WNC Railroad Covered Bridge (was approx. 2.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

O'Brien Furnace Marker<br>(<i>wide view • US Highway 19E on left</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 13, 2019

2. O'Brien Furnace Marker
(wide view • US Highway 19E on left)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,480 times since then and 168 times this year. Last updated on April 2, 2023, by Robin deBry of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Photos: 1. submitted on June 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on June 22, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.