Near Ely in White Pine County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Ward Charcoal Ovens
Photographed By Duane Hall, May 23, 2009
1. Ward Charcoal Ovens Marker
These ovens were constructed during the mid 1870's and are larger and of finer construction than most other ovens found in Nevada. They are 27 feet in diameter and 30 feet high with a capacity of about 35 cords of wood which was burned for a period of 12 days to produce about 50 bushels of good solid charcoal per cord.
The charcoal was used in the smelters at nearby Ward, about 30 to 50 bushels being required to reduce one ton of ore.
Each filling of one of these ovens required the total tree crop from 5 or 6 acres of land. During the late 1870's the hills and mountains around many mining camps were completely stripped of all timber for a radius of up to 35 miles.
As railroads penetrated the West charcoal was replaced by coke made from coal, and the charcoal industry faded.
"The real worth of the old charcoal ovens is their historical function in remining present day Americans of now-vanished industry, without which the great silver and lead bonanzas of the early West could not have been harvested." - Nell Murbarger
Erected by Nevada Division of Historic
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 39° 2.249′ N, 114° 50.771′ W. Marker is near Ely, Nevada, in White Pine County. Marker can be reached from Cave Valley Road (County Road 45) one mile south of County Road 16. Marker is best accessed from US 50/93/6 via White Pine County Road 16. Turn west onto County Road 16, and at intersection with Cave Valley Rd / County Road 45, turn left (south) for approximately one mile. Do not take the main driveway into Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park Road. Further south there is a driveway signed to the "ovens". Turn right and the marker is located in a graveled parking lot approx. 1/2 mile down the driveway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ely NV 89315, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Making Charcoal (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ward Charcoal Ovens (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Ward Cemetery (approx. 2.7 miles away); Ward Mining District (approx. 6.1 miles away); Taylor (approx. 6.2 miles away); Settlement of Lund (approx. 15.2 miles away).
Also see . . . Ward Charcoal Ovens
Photographed By Duane Hall, May 23, 2009
2. Ward Charcoal Ovens Marker with ovens in background
Photographed By Duane Hall, May 23, 2009
3. Ward Charcoal Ovens
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 4, 2013
4. Ward Charcoal Ovens Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 481 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 25, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 4. submitted on October 19, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
