The Elk Rapids Iron Company

The Elk Rapids Iron Company began operations at this location in 1873. You are standing in front of the base of the smelting furnace. The tall rectangular elevator tower was used to dump iron ore, limestone and charcoal into this furnace. Operations ceased in 1915 due to the economic conditions of the times and more modern methods of producing charcoal “pig iron.” , On the extreme upper left sits the chemical plant. It began operations in 1881 producing acetate of lime, wood alcohol, etc. The white round kilns were used to produce charcoal. It could take a team of men eight hours to fill one of these with stacked wood. , In the right foreground is the company boarding house known as the “beehive.” Notice the outhouse behind it. To the lower left is a cluster of small homes known as “Swede Town.”