Clarksville in Montgomery County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Forged in Fire
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, February 26, 2022
1. Forged in Fire Marker
One ravaged Orgain building supply, the blaze warping a steel rack into a twisted shape that ultimately became the sculpture.
When the company rebuilt, it placed the sculpture - entitled "Forged in Fire in front of its new building as a nod to the mythical phoenix that rises, reborn, from ashes.
Renewal of the sculpture began in 2014. After Orgain donated it to the city, students at Montgomery Central High School refashioned the peace. Edges were smoothed, and 80 pounds were trimmed off. Then the piece was painted with an industrial enamel in a color called Safety Red.
The base is filled with missives from area students; they wrote notes on pieces of paper about their hopes and dreams. The sculpture also stands as a memorial to students whose lives were cut short, robbing them of the chance to pursue their hopes and dreams.
This project was made possible by the following:
Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts City of Clarksville Clarksville Public Arts Commission
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Disasters.
Location. 36°
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Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, 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 walking distance of this marker: Town Spring (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Whitfield, Bradley & Co. (about 800 feet away); Dog Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Horace H. Lurton (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memory of Colonel Valentine Sevier (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarksville's Most Iconic Structure (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarksville Federal Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarksville Federal Building / Post Office / Customs House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarksville.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, February 26, 2022
2. Forged in Fire Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
