Industrial Recycling

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Industrial Recycling Marker

Inscription. Iron companies in the late 1800s began melting down scrap metal from old machines and parts to make new products, just as we recycle materials like aluminum cans today. The “car wheel crusher” that stood here broke up old railroad car wheels so that the pieces could be melted and reshaped. A large weight was dropped on the wheels to break them.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 32.135′ N, 77° 26.829′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Gambles Hill. It could be reached from Tredegar Street 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America.

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 Central

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Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Horseshoe Shops (about 300 feet away); Tredegar in the Twentieth Century / Then and Now (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. Making Machines at Tredegar (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Neighborhoods at Tredegar (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Rolling Mills (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle Prison (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle and Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. Industrial Recycling Marker

(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar in 1951 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); The Bulldozer Press (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Worker Housing (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Spike Mill (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Francis Turbine (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Rail Lines at Tredegar (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Adapting Power (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. On the left is a photograph with the caption, "Many railroad car wheels were found during site restoration."

On the right is a photograph of a rail line dump site with the caption, "Photographs of the Tredegar Iron Works

Looking east toward the scrap pile site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 8, 2009

3. Looking east toward the scrap pile site

show large scrap piles throughout the grounds. This photograph looking east shows a pile just below your location."

Railroad car wheels found during site restoration. image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

4. Railroad car wheels found during site restoration.

Scrap pile for recycling image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

5. Scrap pile for recycling

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 874 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.