Near Zaleski in Vinton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
From Forest to Furnace
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 15, 2009
1. From Forest to Furnace Marker
Hundreds of men labored cutting timber, working the furnace and driving teams of oxen hauling iron ore to the furnace. To fuel the furnaces, the forests were repeatedly cut, and the wood converted to charcoal. Each furnace required cutting 300 to 400 acres of timber annually to keep up with the demand. Charcoal was produced from this timber. The wood was placed onto a pile 30-50 feet in diameter and 25 feet tall. The pile was then covered with a mound of dirt and the timber was burned for 3-30 days, turning the wood into charcoal. These charcoal fires were tended 24 hours a day; so much wood was required for this process that surrounding hillsides were almost completely stripped of their timber.
Erected 2005 by Make A Difference Day Ohio and Others.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces series list.
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 39° 19.927′ N, 82° 20.423′ W. Marker was near Zaleski, Ohio, in Vinton County. It could be reached from
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Hocking Hills and in Southern Ohio Hill Country. It was also in the American Midwest, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern 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 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Hope Furnace / Hanging Rock Iron Region (here, next to this marker); Hope Furnace Ruins (a few steps from this marker); Hope Furnace (a few steps from this marker); The History of Lake Hope (within shouting distance of this marker); Hope Schoolhouse (approx. 1.3 miles away); Selinde Roosenburg (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Hope Schoolhouse (approx. 1.3 miles away); Gallia County State Route 160 Racoon Creek Bridge (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zaleski.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Hanging Rock Blast Furnace (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Furnace Legacy (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Life in Zaleski (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed);
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 15, 2009
2. From Forest to Furnace Marker
Hope Furnace in background.
Also see . . . HOW IT WORKS - Charcoal. YouTube video (4m 29s) (Submitted on March 19, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 15, 2009
3. From Forest to Furnace Marker
Hope Furnace in background.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 901 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
