Mountain Brook in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Wallace S. McElwain
⎯⎯⎯
Irondale Furnace Ruins

Wallace S. McElwain Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, March 6, 2008

1. Wallace S. McElwain Marker

Inscription. Wallace S. McElwain
(1832-1888)McElwain trained in a gun factory in New York and in a foundry in Ohio before moving to Holly Springs, MS, where he operated Jones, McElwain and Company Iron Foundry. He was well known in the Southeast for his beautiful cast iron designs, which still adorn many buildings in the French Quarter in New Orleans. After the Civil War began, he received the first order for the production of rifles and cannons from the Confederacy. He moved his operations to Jefferson County when Union forces approached Holly Springs. He died in Chattanooga, TN.

Irondale Furnace Ruins
(1863-1873) This blast furnace was built in 1863 by Wallace S. McElwain under contract to the Confederate Government to supply pig iron to the arsenal in Selma. Facility encompassed 2,146 acres and included an ore mine, quarry, tramway, foundry, blacksmiths' shops, stables, and employee housing. Destroyed March 29, 1865 by the Fourth Iowa Veteran Volunteers, it was rebuilt in 1866 and operated until 1873. First iron furnace in Alabama to go back into operation after the Civil War. Located 1/4 mile southwest of here. Renovated 2006.

Erected 1993 by Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society / Memory of Elmer C Thuston.

Topics and series. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 29, 1981.

Location. 33° 30.414′ N, 86° 43.596′ W. Marker is in Mountain Brook, Alabama, in Jefferson County. It is on Stone River Road north of Old Leeds Lane, on the left when traveling north. Stone River Road is off of Old Leeds Road. From Interstate 20 at Exit 135 the Old Leeds Road Exit, travel south on Old Leeds Road for 4.16 miles. Turn right onto Stone River Road, the marker is located on the left at the foot of a bridge about 0.8 miles after making the turn from of Old Leeds Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birmingham AL 35231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Birmingham Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oldest House In Shades Valley / Irondale Furnace Commissary (approx. 0.6 miles away); Highlands School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Alabama Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Mountain Brook (approx. 1.7 miles away); Dedication (approx. 2 miles away); Canterbury United Methodist Church

Irondale Furnace Ruins Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, March 6, 2008

2. Irondale Furnace Ruins Marker

(approx. 2 miles away); Forest Park (approx. 2.4 miles away); Racial Terrorism and Criminal Justice / Lynching in Irondale (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain Brook.

More about this marker. The marker stands at the entrance to the Irondale Furnace Park. A trail leads to the furnace site about a quarter of mile walk from the marker.

Also see . . .
1. Wallace McElwain. Bhanwiki website entry (Submitted on November 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Irondale Furnace trail rich in history. Village Living website entry (Submitted on January 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Wallace S. McElwain & Irondadale Furnace Ruins Marker on Stone River Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

3. Wallace S. McElwain & Irondadale Furnace Ruins Marker on Stone River Road

Irondale Furnace after the Civil War. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

4. Irondale Furnace after the Civil War.

Irondale Furnace Today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

5. Irondale Furnace Today

Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,663 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.

Wallace S. McElwain⎯⎯⎯Irondale Furnace Ruins

Wallace S. McElwain
⎯⎯⎯
Irondale Furnace Ruins