THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
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Appalachian Iron Furnaces Historical Markers

Beginning in the 1700s converting iron ore into iron took place at isolated iron works close to ore sources. They were abandoned when raw materials were depleted, leaving their pyramidal stacked-stone furnaces to history.
 
By Tim & Renda Carr, October 17, 2010
Bibb Furnace Marker (Center Marker)
1 ► Alabama, Bibb County, Brierfield — Bibb Furnace —
On Furnace Road (County Road 62) south of Montevallo Road (State Route 25).
The Bibb County Iron Company under the direction of C. C. Huckabee of Newbern, Alabama, constructed a furnace here and poured the first iron in November 1862. Within a year, the Confederate government purchased the works and completed a second and . . . — — Map (db m37090) HM
2 ► Alabama, Calhoun County, Ohatchee — Janney Furnace —
On Janney Road 0.1 miles east of Spring Road, on the left when traveling east.
The furnace was constructed by Montgomery businessman Alfred A. Janney, reportedly using slaves brought from Tennessee by a "Dr. Smith." The furnace was completed and ready to produce pig iron when, on July 14, 1864, a Union cavalry raiding force of . . . — — Map (db m25544) HM
3 ► Alabama, Cherokee County, Cedar Bluff — Cornwall Furnace —
Near County Road 251.
The Confederate States of America in 1862 commissioned the Noble Brothers of Rome, Georgia to erect a cold blast furnace to produce needed pig iron for the war effort. The skilled labor was detailed from Confederate army personnel. It is . . . — — Map (db m83267) HM
4 ► Alabama, Cherokee County, Spring Garden — Rock Run Furnace —
On County Route 29 at County Route 45, on the right when traveling north on County Route 29.
Put into blast on June 1, 1874, the furnace would change ownership two times prior to being purchased by the Bass Foundry and Machine Co. of Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1880. A rail spur was built from the furnace to Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad at . . . — — Map (db m114842) HM
5 ► Alabama, Jefferson County, Mountain Brook — Wallace S. McElwain / Irondale Furnace Ruins —
On Stone River Road north of Old Leeds Lane, on the left when traveling north.
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 . . . — — Map (db m26266) HM
6 ► Alabama, Jefferson County, Trussville — Trussville Furnace — 1889-1919 —
On Parkway Drive at North Mall, in the median on Parkway Drive.
Operated on this site under the ownership of seven companies to produce foundry pig iron. Supplied pig iron during World War 1. Closed for the last time in the Spring of 1919. Dismantled in 1933, and the land sold in 1935 for a Federal Housing . . . — — Map (db m26229) HM
7 ► Alabama, Shelby County, Columbiana — Shelby Furnaces — Erected 1849 and 1863 — ------5 miles ---> —
On South Main Street at Mildred Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street.
Major source of pig iron for the Confederacy. Furnished iron to Selma arsenal for heavy cannon, naval armor plate. Furnaces destroyed in 1865 by Wilson’s Cavalry raiders U.S.A. Rebuilt 1873, closed 1923. — — Map (db m28523) HM
8 ► Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, McCalla — Tannehill Furnace And Foundry — (1829-1865) —
On Bucksville Road (Alabama Route 216) east of Interstate 59/20, on the right when traveling east.
2 ½ miles East - the beginning of Steel Industry in this area. Iron Ore, reduced by charcoal, hauled by oxcart, was made into plows, pots, cannon and munitions. State Park- Camping, Nature Trails, Swimming and Fishing Early American . . . — — Map (db m36927) HM
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9 ► Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, McCalla — Tannehill Furnaces —
Near Confederate Parkway.
Tannehill Furnaces began as a small forge in 1830. During the War Between the States (1861-1865) these furnaces were a major supplier of iron and munitions for the Confederacy. When partially destroyed by Union troops on March 31, . . . — — Map (db m36926) HM
10 ► Connecticut, Northwest Hills Region, North Canaan, East Canaan — 9 — What Is This Place? — Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument —
Near Lower Road at Furnace Hill Road, on the left when traveling west.
You are standing in front of the remains of an iron furnace. This facility, Beckley Furnace, operated from 1847 until 1919, making it one of the last of its kind to operate in the United States. Originally, this site consisted of several . . . — — Map (db m41975) HM
11 ► Kentucky, Bath County, Midland — 1226 — Caney Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 60 at Old River Road, on the left when traveling west on U.S. 60.
Caney Furnace Stood five miles south. This stone stack, built 1837-38 by Harrison Connor and Joshua Ewing, Sr., was among first iron furnaces west of the Alleghenies to be equipped with a hot-blast oven, a device to preheat the air blown . . . — — Map (db m110123) HM
12 ► Kentucky, Bath County, Owingsville — 993 — Bourbon Iron Works / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 36, on the left when traveling north.
Bourbon Iron Works Jacob Myers from Richmond, Va. took up land grants here on Slate Creek, 1782. He built the first iron blast furnace in Ky., 1791. John Cockey Owings and Co. formed to operate furnace. Utensils and tools supplied settlers. . . . — — Map (db m110121) HM
13 ► Kentucky, Bath County, Salt Lick — 1050 — Clear Creek Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Main Street (Kentucky Route 211), on the right when traveling north.
Clear Creek Furnace Built in 1839, 5 miles south, by W. A. Lane and W. S. Allen. Stone stack originally 40 ft. high and 10 1/2 ft. across inside, burning charcoal. Air blast powered by steam. Its iron was used mainly for railway car wheels. . . . — — Map (db m110122) HM
14 ► Kentucky, Bell County, Middlesboro — 1402 — Watts Furnaces / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On 12th Street (U.S. 25E) at 14th Street East, on the right when traveling south on 12th Street.
Watts Furnace. Stood ½ mile SW. A pair of blast furnaces built by the Watts Steel and Iron Syndicate, Ltd., 1890-93, and operated until 1898. Each iron shell stack was 75 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 17 ft. Using coke fuel and . . . — — Map (db m170830) HM
15 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Ashland — 1023 — Norton Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Winchester Avenue (Business U.S. 23) at 23rd Street, on the left when traveling east on Winchester Avenue.
NORTON FURNACE. In 1967, the world’s oldest known operating blast furnace. Built by Norton Iron Works Co. in 1873, an iron shell stack 67 ft. high with maximum inner diameter of 18 feet, burning “stone coal.” It produced 10,502 tons . . . — — Map (db m128281) HM
16 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Bellefonte — 1020 — Bellefonte Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Bellefonte-Princess Road (Kentucky Route 5) at Princess Drive and Oxcart Road, on the left when traveling south on Bellefonte-Princess Road.
Bellefonte Furnace. The most successful of pioneer Kentucky charcoal furnaces in the Hanging Rock Iron Region. Built by Archibald Paull, George Poague and others in 1826. Its stone stack was 34 feet high with a maximum inner diameter of . . . — — Map (db m126468) HM
17 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Princess — 1010 — Buena Vista Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 5 at Straight Creek Road, on the left when traveling north on Kentucky Route 5.
Buena Vista Furnace Built by William Foster and Co. in 1847, 2¼ miles west, named for Mexican War battle that year. It was an important factor in the Hanging Rock iron industry until dismantled in 1876. Its 1874 production was 4113 tons. Stone . . . — — Map (db m126266) HM
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18 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Princess — 1135 — Princess Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 5 at Princess Drive, on the left on Kentucky Route 5.
Princess Furnace. Built here in 1876-77 by Thomas W. Means (1803-90), for 50 years the leading figure in the iron industry of this area, owner of furnaces in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama. This iron-jacketed stack burned “stone . . . — — Map (db m126230) HM
19 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Rockdale — 1155 — Clinton Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 60 south of Shopes Creek Road (Route 583).
Clinton Furnace. Stood one mile east. Its stone stack was 10 ft across inside, about 35 ft. high, built in 1832 by George, William Thomas H. and Hugh A. Poage. In 270 days of 1838 it used 2992 tons of ore, 247,000 bushels of charcoal to make . . . — — Map (db m126229) HM
20 ► Kentucky, Boyd County, Rush — 1131 — Sandy Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 3 just south of Bolts Fork Road ( Route 773), on the left when traveling south.
Sandy Furnace. Built 1853 by Young, Foster & Co (Dan and John Young, William Foster, Irwin Gilruth), 4 miles west on a 9,000 acre tract. Stone stack originally 32 ft. high, 10½ ft. across inside. In 1854, its last year of operation, . . . — — Map (db m126132) HM
21 ► Kentucky, Bullitt County, Bardstown Junction — 1162 — Salt River Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Preston Highway (Kentucky Route 61) at Beech Grove Road (County Route 1494), on the left when traveling north on Preston Highway.
Stood one mile west. It was a stone stack 33 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft. Its fuel was charcoal, and its air blast machinery was driven by a steam engine, blowing preheated air through the stack. Built in 1832, perhaps by John H. . . . — — Map (db m122030) HM
22 ► Kentucky, Bullitt County, Lebanon Junction — 1136 — Belmont Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Pioneer Drive 1 mile south of East Pioneer Drive, on the left when traveling south.
Belmont Furnace Stone stack 500 yds. east, 33 ft. high originally, 10 ft. across inside. Built in 1844, perhaps by John H. Baker, rebuilt in 1853, it burned charcoal fuel, smelted iron ore from Cane Run. The air blast machinery was powered . . . — — Map (db m174393) HM
23 ► Kentucky, Calloway County, New Concord — 1373 — Gerard Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On State Highway 121 at Cypress Trail, on the right when traveling north on State Highway 121.
Gerard Furnace Built 2¼ miles east in 1854 by Browder, Kentucky and Co. Inside it was 24ft. high and 10½ ft. across at widest point, burning locally made charcoal fuel. Its air blast machinery was powered by steam. In 34 weeks of 1857, it . . . — — Map (db m37941) HM
24 ► Kentucky, Campbell County, Newport — 1395 — Licking Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On West 5th Street (Kentucky Route 8), in the median.
Built three blocks east in 1859 by Swift's Iron and Steel Works. As rebuilt in 1869, it was 65 feet high, with a maximum diameter inside of 16 feet. Its annual capacity was 17,000 tons of iron, using Connellsville coke as fuel. Iron mostly converted . . . — — Map (db m49114) HM
25 ► Kentucky, Carter County, Grayson — 914 — Mount Savage Furnace —
On Hitchens Road (Kentucky Route 1) south of East Main Street (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling south.
Six miles south, site of famous iron furnace, erected, 1848, by R. M. Biggs and others. Operated 37 years, averaging 15 tons pig iron daily which was hauled by ox teams to Ohio River for shipment. Iron produced here was used for rails, plows, . . . — — Map (db m144955) HM
26 ► Kentucky, Carter County, Grayson — 1148 — Pactolus Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Carol Malone Road (Kentucky Route 1) 1 mile north of Interstate 64, on the right when traveling south.
Pactolus Furnace Built in 1824 by Joseph McMurtry and David L. Ward, on the site of an earlier bloomer forge. Its stone stack used charcoal fuel, and its air blast machinery was powered from a dam, 5 1/2 ft. high, in Little Sandy River. Capacity . . . — — Map (db m73787) HM
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27 ► Kentucky, Carter County, Rush — 1018 — Star Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 60 just west of Clay Hollow Road, on the left when traveling west.
Built in 1848 by A. McCullough and Lampton Brothers. Its stone stack was 36 feet high. 11½ feet across inside at widest point, and burned “stone coal” rather than charcoal. It was served by its own railroad spur. In 1866 it produced . . . — — Map (db m144425) HM
28 ► Kentucky, Crittenden County, Marion — 1225 — Hurricane Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On State Road 135 0.1 miles east of Hurricane Church Road, on the right when traveling east.
Built 1/4 mile southeast in 1850 by Andrew Jackson, Jr. Also known as Jackson Furnace. As rebuilt in 1856, it was 34 ft. high, with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft. In 6 months of 1857, made 1200 tons of iron from ores of the Jackson Bank, . . . — — Map (db m289919) HM
29 ► Kentucky, Crittenden County, Tolu — 1450 — Deer Creek Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On State Highway 135 at County Road 1668, on the right when traveling east on State Highway 135.
Stood one mile south. It was a brick blast furnace, smelting iron ore from the numerous small pits still visible nearby, using locally made charcoal fuel, and having a steam-powered air blast. Built in 1850 by Alleniah Cole, and Carey Allen . . . — — Map (db m289918) HM
30 ► Kentucky, Edmonson County, Leitchfield — 1396 — Nolin Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Moutardier Road south of Oakland Hills Road, on the right when traveling south.
Nolin Furnace Also called Baker Furnace after its ironmaster, John H. Baker, was built in 1848, a mile north, by Craddock &. Co. The top of the stone stack, about 40 ft high originally, is still visible when water in the Nolin Reservoir . . . — — Map (db m171787) HM
31 ► Kentucky, Estill County, Ravenna — 1054 — Red River Iron Works / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Tipton Ridge Road (U.S. 52) just east of Cobhill-Patsey Pilot Road ( Route 1182), on the right when traveling north.
Red River Iron Works Blackstone and Chandler Furnaces, a single stone structure 60 ft. high, 40 x 60 ft. Twin stacks 50 ft. high, 12 ½ ft. across inside. Three miles north. Built in 1869 by Sam Worthley, designed by Fred Fitch, with . . . — — Map (db m169099) HM
32 ► Kentucky, Green County, Summersville — 1080 — Iron in Green County / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Hodgenville Road (State Highway 61) 0.1 miles south of State Highway 566, on the right when traveling north.
(Side One) Iron in Green County Three iron furnaces built along Brush Creek after iron ore was found, 1815. Jacob Holderman and Charles Wilkins built furnace and forge, 1816, 10 miles downstream. Joseph Harrison erected furnace, . . . — — Map (db m96939) HM
33 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Argillite — 1016 — Pennsylvania Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Eastern Kentucky Road (Kentucky Route 207) at Culp Creek Road, on the right when traveling south on Eastern Kentucky Road.
Pennsylvania Furnace Stood 3¼ miles west. Built 1845 by George and Samuel Wurts, later owned by Eastern Kentucky R.R. which shipped its production to Ohio River. Operated until 1881, producing 2213 tons of iron in 1873. Its stone stack was 38 . . . — — Map (db m211784) HM
34 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Ashland — 1149 — Bellefonte Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Russell Road (U.S. 23) at Russell Plaza Drive, on the right when traveling west on Russell Road.
Bellefonte Furnace. The 96th blast furnace built in Hanging Rock Region since 1818. Considered most highly perfected in existence when erected, 1942, by Armco Steel Corp., with hearth 25 feet across, producing 1000 tons of iron daily, later . . . — — Map (db m126411) HM
35 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Greenup — 976 — Buffalo Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Main Road at Warehouse Road on Main Road.
Buffalo Furnace A major producer of iron in the Hanging Rock Region 1851-75, an important Union Army supplier in Civil War. Built by H. Hollister and Ross. Stone stack originally was 36 ½ feet high, with a steam powered air blast. . . . — — Map (db m73782) HM WM
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36 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Greenup — 1008 — Iron made in Kentucky / Steam Furnace —
On Wurtland Avenue.
Iron made in Kentucky. A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, . . . — — Map (db m73778) HM
37 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Greenup — 1009 — Raccoon Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Seaton Avenue (U.S. 23) at Washington Street ( Route 2), on the right when traveling west on Seaton Avenue.
Racoon Furnace. Built in 1833 by D. Trimble and J.T. Withrow, six miles south. Originally 35 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 10½ ft. In 1873 this furnace produced 1467 tons of iron. It owned about 10,000 acres of land, mining its . . . — — Map (db m126376) HM
38 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Hopewell — 1143 — Hopewell Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 1 north of Big Lost Creek Road ( Route 784), on the right when traveling north.
Hopewell Furnace. In 1824 William Ward built here a bloomery forge, converting it, 1832-33, to a blast furnace, also known as Camp Branch Furnace. Air blast was water-powered. In 1838 this stone stack made 600 tons of ore, and burning 165,000 . . . — — Map (db m126324) HM
39 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Lynn — 1130 — New Hampshire Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 7 at Brushy Road, on the right when traveling south on Kentucky Route 7.
Built 6 miles west in 1846 on a tract of 30,000 acres by Samuel Seaton and others. Stone stack is 35 feet high, 10 feet across inside. Charcoal fueled, steam-powered air blast. In 22 weeks of 1854, produced 970 tons of iron, hauled in pigs by . . . — — Map (db m144394) HM
40 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Oldtown — 1019 — Laurel Furnace / Iron Made In Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 1 at Laurel Road, on the left when traveling north on Kentucky Route 1.
Laurel Furnace. Built 4 miles west by George and Samuel Wurts in 1849. The bottom half of the stack, originally 39 feet high, is carved from one block of stone cliff. Maximum inner diameter 10½ feet. It made 2150 tons of iron in 31 weeks . . . — — Map (db m126328) HM
41 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Raceland — 1132 — Caroline Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 23 at Legion Drive, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 23.
Caroline Furnace. Stood 1½ mi. south. Built 1833 by Henry, Blake & Co. Stone stack was 35 ft. high, with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft.; burned charcoal. Air blast powered by steam. In 1838, produced 750 tons of iron, consuming . . . — — Map (db m126406) HM
42 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, Russell — 1142 — Amanda Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 23 west of Ashland Drive ( Route 1725), on the right when traveling east.
Amanda Furnace. A stone stack 35 feet high, 10 feet across inside, built in 1829 by James E. McDowell, John Culver, John H., Edwin P., Robert C., and William L. Poage; later owned by the Paull family, buried on the hillside above. In 196 days . . . — — Map (db m126467) HM
43 ► Kentucky, Greenup County, South Shore — 1147 — Enterprise Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On U.S. 23 at Little Rocky Road ( Route 1043), on the right when traveling east on U.S. 23.
Enterprise Furnace stood 6 miles south. Built, 1826, by Richard Deering, James McCoy and Jacob Clingman, on the site of a bloomery forge erected in 1824. Its air blast was operated by water power, and it burned charcoal fuel, producing as much . . . — — Map (db m144390) HM
44 ► Kentucky, Hart County, Magnolia — 949 — Site, Aetna Furnace —
On U.S. 31E at Aetna Furnace Highway ( Highway 936), on the right when traveling north on U.S. 31E.
Built in 1816, first iron furnace in western half of Kentucky. Salt and iron sought by early settlers. Charles Wilkins, Ruggles Whiting, and Jacob Holderman were partners in this furnace until 1826, when Holderman became the sole owner. Property . . . — — Map (db m96819) HM
Paid Advertisement
45 ► Kentucky, Hart County, Munfordville — 1390 — Henry Clay Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Main Street (U.S. 31W) at East Union Street (State Highway 357), on the left when traveling south on Main Street.
Henry Clay Furnace Built 7¼ miles east in 1832 by Aylette Hartswell Buckner, S.V. Leedom, Cadwallader Churchill. A stone stack about 35 ft. high, 9 ft. across at widest inside, it burned charcoal fuel to produce pig iron and utensils from . . . — — Map (db m39942) HM
46 ► Kentucky, Lawrence County, Louisa — 1354 — Pioneer Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Old U.S. 23 south of East Clayton Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Pioneer Furnace. The southernmost blast furnace in the Hanging Rock Iron Region. Built in 1881, 4½ miles south, by Jay H. Northup, George C. Peck and Thomas Cummings. A stone stack 18 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 4½ ft., it . . . — — Map (db m136981) HM
47 ► Kentucky, Livingston County, Grand River — 1368 — Grand Rivers Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Commerce Avenue.
Grand Rivers Furnace. Built ½ mile west, 1890-91, by the Grand Rivers Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. Two stacks, each one 60 ft high with a maximum inner diameter of 13½ ft., together could produce 45,000 tons of iron yearly, using . . . — — Map (db m47239) HM
48 ► Kentucky, Livingston County, Tiline — 1349 — Hopewell Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Tiline Road (Kentucky Route 70) 0.2 miles east of Vaughn Road, on the right when traveling east.
Hopewell Furnace. Also called Ozeoro, built ½ mile north in 1848 by Wm. L. Hiter, Wm. Lewis and Henry F. Given. A brick stack 30 ft. high, 9 ft. in maximum inner diameter, it was charcoal-fueled powered with air blast by steam. In 33 . . . — — Map (db m170127) HM
49 ► Kentucky, Livingston County, Tiline — 1348 — Underwood Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Tiline Road (Kentucky Route 70) 0.2 miles east of Vaughn Road, on the right when traveling east.
Underwood Furnace. Built ¾ mile north in 1846-47 by James C. Sloo and Leonard White. It was a brick structure with a steam powered air-blast, using locally made charcoal fuel to produce pig iron from ore mined nearby. Iron was shipped by . . . — — Map (db m170130) HM
50 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Eddyville — 1364 — Mammoth Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Old Ferry Road (Forest Road 117) at Forest Road 122, on the right when traveling north on Old Ferry Road.
Mammoth Furnace Built ¾ miles west in 1845 by Charles and John Stacker, a stone stack 31½ ft. high, 9 ft. across inside at widest. Steam-powered, charcoal-fueled, it made white, unusually hard pig iron from ore deposits near furnace, . . . — — Map (db m169129) HM
51 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Kuttawa — 61 — (Kelly Furnace)
On Kentucky Route 810 south of Rusty Ridge Road, on the right when traveling south. Reported damaged.
Here William Kelly (1811-1888) discovered a steel making method, later known as the Besssemer process, which made it possible for civilization to pass from the Iron Age to the Steel Age. — — Map (db m169125) HM
52 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Kuttawa — 1326 — Eddyville Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Lake Barkley Drive (Kentucky Route 295) south of Mint Spring Drive, on the left when traveling south.
Eddyville Furnace Also, called Jim and I. A brick blast furnace for smelting iron, burning charcoal fuel, built 1832 by John and Samuel Stacker, and Thomas Tennessee Watson. Later owned by members of Cobb family, then by William Kelly, . . . — — Map (db m169120) HM
53 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Kuttawa — 1340 — Fulton Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Woodlands Trace (Kentucky Route 453) at Race Track Hollow Road (County Road 131), on the right when traveling north on Woodlands Trace.
Built 2 miles east in 1845 by Thomas Tennessee Watson, Daniel Hillman. A brick stack 33 ft. high, 11 ft. across at the widest point, it produced 1044 tons of iron in 22 weeks of 1857. After 1856, it had ovens to heat the air for its blast, . . . — — Map (db m289932) HM
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54 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Kuttawa — 1332 — New Union Forge / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Lake Barkley Road (Kentucky Route 295) at 1st Street, on the right when traveling east on Lake Barkley Road.
New Union Forge Stood ¼ mile SE. Built 1846-47 on site of older facilities by Wm. Kelly to process pig iron from nearby blast furnaces. Kettles to refine sugar, boiler-plate iron among products. Here Kelly began to develop the so-called . . . — — Map (db m123680) HM
55 ► Kentucky, Lyon County, Kuttawa — 1327 — Suwanee Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Kentucky Route 810 near U.S. 62, on the right when traveling south.
Suwanee Furnace. Built by 1851, 200 yds. NW, by William Kelly, whose experiments there perfected his invention of the so-called Bessemer method of making steel, for which Kelly was granted the patent. The blast furnace was a brick stack 35 ft. . . . — — Map (db m123677) HM
56 ► Kentucky, McCracken County, Paducah — 1421 — Paducah Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On South 3rd Street (Business U.S. 60) at Norton Street, on the left when traveling south on South 3rd Street.
Paducah Furnace Built here 1889 by Paducah Iron Co., 70 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 14 ft. Rated annual capacity 30,000 tons of iron, using coke fuel. Operations began in 1900, smelting ore from Lyon, Trigg, Livingston Counties in . . . — — Map (db m158741) HM
57 ► Kentucky, Menifee County, Scranton — 1120 — Beaver Dam Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Old Beaver Road (Kentucky Route 1274) 6.4 miles east of Route 36, on the right when traveling east.
Erected in 1819 by J. T. Mason. it began operations under Robert Crockett, ironmaster. The furnace was a big truncated pyramid of sandstone blocks, 35 feet high with a 28 foot square base. Some products: nails, “plough plates,” kettles, . . . — — Map (db m146658) HM
58 ► Kentucky, Muhlenberg County, Drakesboro — 1086 — Airdrie Furnace Site / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On John Prine Avenue (U.S. 431) north of East Mose Rager Avenue (State Route 176), on the right when traveling north.
Airdrie Furnace Site East 5 miles. Furnace, 55 ft. high, and stone machinery house built by Robert Alexander, 1855. Brought in Scottish workers, unfamiliar with American ores. Never produced any salable iron. Alexander named town of . . . — — Map (db m123517) HM
59 ► Kentucky, Muhlenberg County, Greenville — 1389 — Buckner-Churchill Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Greenville Road (Kentucky Route 181) at Carter Creek Rd, on the right when traveling south on Greenville Road.
Buckner-Churchill Furnace. A round stone blast furnace built a mile NW in 1837 by Aylette Hartswell Buckner and Cadwallader Churchill. Using local ore and charcoal fuel, it produced pig iron, which was hauled 18 miles to South Carrollton for . . . — — Map (db m290176) HM
60 ► Kentucky, Nelson County, Nelsonville — 1113 — Nelson Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Nelsonville Road (Kentucky Route 52) at Nelsonville Lane, on the right when traveling east on Nelsonville Road.
Organized by William and Mordecai Miller and John Irwin in 1836. The blast furnace had two forty foot pyramidal stone stacks with six-foot hearths. Output of iron in 1857 was 12 tons daily. The Civil War boom in iron brought the merger with Belmont . . . — — Map (db m255270) HM
61 ► Kentucky, Trigg County, Cadiz — 1367 — Stacker Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Linton Road (Kentucky Route 164) at Majestic Drive/Ferry Landing Road, on the right when traveling south on Linton Road.
Stacker Furnace Also called Olive Landing and Line Island, was built here by William Ewing and French Rayburn in 1845-46, and was afterward owned by Samuel Stacker. It had a steam-powered air blast. Using ore from deposits nearby and locally . . . — — Map (db m179496) HM
62 ► Kentucky, Trigg County, Golden Pond — 998 — Laura Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Forest Service Road 165, on the left when traveling south.
Laura Furnace Site of one of several furnaces operated in the region between the rivers, now lakes. This one, Laura, built 1855 by Tennesseeans at cost of $40,000. Produced iron successfully, employing as many as 130, until Civil War forced it . . . — — Map (db m136770) HM
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63 ► Kentucky, Trigg County, Rockcastle — 1366 — Center Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Rockcastle Road (Kentucky Route 274) at Trigg Furnace Road, on the right when traveling north on Rockcastle Road.
Center Furnace Sometimes called Hematite, furnace was built by 1852 by Daniel Hillman 2 1/2 mi. west; 35 ft. high, 10 ft. across inside at widest point. Operated, although not continuously, until 1912, burning charcoal fuel. Its air blast was . . . — — Map (db m136776) HM
64 ► Kentucky, Trigg County, Rockcastle — 1357 — Empire Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Rockcastle Road (Kentucky Route 274) at Trigg Furnace Road, on the right when traveling north on Rockcastle Road.
Empire Furnace Stood 1 mile west. Built 1843 by Thomas Tennessee Watson, it was a brick stack with a maximum inner diameter of 91/2 ft., 35 ft. high. It burned charcoal fuel, and its air blast was powered by steam. In 45 weeks of 1856, made . . . — — Map (db m136775) HM
65 ► Kentucky, Trigg County, Rockcastle — 1380 — Trigg Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky —
On Rockcastle Road (Kentucky Route 274) at Trigg Furnace Road, on the right when traveling north on Rockcastle Road.
Trigg Furnace Built here in 1871 by the Daniel Hillman Iron Co., was a brick-and-stone blast furnace producing pig iron from locally mined ore. It burned charcoal fuel, and used steam power to blow preheated air through the stack. Most iron . . . — — Map (db m136774) HM
66 ► Maryland, Allegany County, Lonaconing — First Successful Coke Fired Iron Furnace in America — Fired May 9, 1839 - Closed 1856 — 33 Furnace Street —
On East Main Street (Maryland Route 36) at Bridge Street, on the right when traveling south on East Main Street.
Named to the National Register of Historic Places — June 19, 1973 Presented by the Preservation Society of Allegany County, Inc. May 1974 — — Map (db m139084) HM
67 ► Maryland, Frederick County, Thurmont — Catoctin Furnace —
On Catoctin Furnace Road (Maryland Route 806) at Red Bird Lane (Route 806), on the right when traveling south on Catoctin Furnace Road.
An important iron furnace during the revolution owned by Governor Thomas Johnson and his brothers. Furnished 100 tons of shells used at Yorktown. — — Map (db m1530) HM
68 ► Maryland, Frederick County, Thurmont — Catoctin Iron Furnace — [Original Catoctin Furnace] —
On Catoctin Furnace Road (Maryland Route 806) south of Red Bird Lane, on the right when traveling south.
The original Catoctin Furnace, located nearby on Little Hunting Creek, was in blast by 1776 and delivered 958 ten inch bombshells weighing over 31 tons to Washington’s Continental Army in 1780. A great number were used in the siege of Yorktown a . . . — — Map (db m61259) HM
69 ► Maryland, Frederick County, Thurmont — Catoctin Iron Furnace — No Time For War — Gettysburg Campaign —
On Blacks Mill Road at Catoctin Furnace Road ( Route 806) on Blacks Mill Road.
When Union Gen. John F. Reynolds’ I Corps marched by here on June 29, 1863, en route to Emmitsburg and soon to Gettysburg, his men were progressing “swimmingly.” The workers of the Catoctin Furnace had little time to notice, since the charcoal . . . — — Map (db m105249) HM
70 ► Maryland, Frederick County, Thurmont — Fueling the Furnace — Catoctin Mountain Park — National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Near Park Central Road north of Foxville Road ( Route 77), on the right when traveling north.
The charcoal was made. The cutters and wood haulers were done. The air was beginning to clear. Now the colliers had to make sure the teamsters transported the charcoal downhill to the Catoctin Iron Furnace with their mule-drawn wagons. For . . . — — Map (db m121161) HM
71 ► Maryland, Garrett County, Friendsville — 5 — Water Street North, Captain Elijah Monroe Friend —
On Maple Street at Water Street, on the right when traveling west on Maple Street.
The land occupied by Wilderness Voyageurs was once the site of the livery stable for the Riverside Hotel. The house pictured above was the home of Captain Elijah Monroe Friend, grandson of Gabriel Friend, son of John Friend the first white . . . — — Map (db m153156) HM
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72 ► Maryland, Washington County, Hagerstown — Trial and Error at Mount Aetna Furnace —
On Key Street north of Highland Avenue when traveling north.
The iron industry of the Western Maryland region was a "prodigious industrial achievement and an immense contribution to the war effort, unmatched by any other furnace establishment in any other North American colony." - . . . — — Map (db m291587) HM
73 ► New Hampshire, Grafton County, Franconia — Iron Furnace —
On Main Street (New Hampshire Route 116) 0.1 miles south of Sugar Hill Road ( Route 117), on the left when traveling north.
Across the Gale River stands New Hampshire's sole surviving blast furnace. It is unusual, as well, in its octagonal shape and its remarkable condition. A huge wooden shed protected the furnace and workers from the weather. The shed filled . . . — — Map (db m116364) HM
74 ► New Hampshire, Grafton County, Franconia — 009 — Stone Iron Furnace —
On Main Street (New Hampshire Route 116) 0.1 miles south of Sugar Hill Road ( Route 117), on the right when traveling south.
Due west stands New Hampshire's sole-surviving example of a post-Revolutionary furnace for smelting local iron ore. The industry flourished during first half of 19th century. It produced pig and bar iron for farm tools and cast iron ware, including . . . — — Map (db m116365) HM
75 ► New Jersey, Passaic County, West Milford — The First Furnace —
Near Greenwood Lake Turnpike, on the right when traveling west.
      The stone foundation before you is all that remains of the original iron furnace at Long Pond Ironworks. Built in 1766 by Peter Hasenclever, it was 25 feet tall and could produce 25 tons of iron a week. During the Revolutionary War, iron . . . — — Map (db m65913) HM
76 ► New York, Clinton County, Standish — Catalan Forge Furnace - 1881 —
On Standish Rd at Depot Rd. on Standish Rd.
Catalan Forge Furnace - 1881 Standish (Williamstown) made brick-like blooms from one of Saranac River Mines 1886 - Replaced by blast furnace & ore from Lyon Mt. — — Map (db m57311) HM
77 ► New York, Clinton County, Town of Plattsburgh — Blast Furnace —
On New York State Route 9 north of South Junction Road, on the right when traveling south.
Erected in 1809 by Alfred Keith. First on Lake Champlain in northern NY State. Operated by Keith 1809-1822, Jacob Sax 1822 until destroyed by the flood of 1830. — — Map (db m108644) HM
78 ► New York, Columbia County, Copake Falls — 1 — Copake Iron Works — 1845-1903 —
Near Valley View Road.
In 1845, Lemuel Pomeroy II, a prominent gun manufacturer from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and his sons, established the Copake Iron Works here at the western edge of the Litchfield Iron District. The site offered all the resources essential for iron . . . — — Map (db m135768) HM
79 ► New York, Orange County, Tuxedo Park — Sterling Furnace —
Near Old Forge Rd close to Sterling Lake Road, on the left when traveling north.
This tablet was erected by the Daughters of the Revolution State of New York June 23, 1906 To commemorate the ruins of Sterling Furnace Which was built on this spot in 1751. This furnace is believed to have been the first place in the State of New . . . — — Map (db m180865) HM
80 ► North Carolina, Stokes County, Danbury — J-98 — Moratock Furnace —
On Main Street (State Highway 89) at Shepherd Mill Road, on the left when traveling south on Main Street.
Smelting furnace built by Nathaniel Moody in 1843. It supplied iron to Confederacy, 1862 - 1865. Stands 3/10 mi. NE. — — Map (db m34121) HM
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81 ► North Carolina, Stokes County, Danbury — Moratock Iron Furnace — Rural Ironworks — Confederate Lifeline —
Near Shepherd Mill Road, on the right when traveling east.
During the Civil War, the Confederacy relied on small rural ironworks for the metals needed to manufacture cannons, swords, and firearms. The furnace here, owned by the Moratock Mining and Manufacturing Company, was typical of the charcoal blast . . . — — Map (db m34156) HM
82 ► Ohio, Columbiana County, Leetonia, Salem Township — 13-22 — Cherry Valley Coke Ovens —
On Main Street at Butcher Road, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
Believed to have been constructed in 1866, this facility is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The complex of 200 ovens was erected by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company, later known as the Cherry Valley Iron Works, to supply fuel for . . . — — Map (db m221403) HM
83 ► Ohio, Columbiana County, Wellsville — Wellsville Mural —
On Lisbon Street at 1st Street on Lisbon Street.
[Mural is on both sides of brick walls on the northern end of town that lie on both sides of the street:] Wellsville Revitalization Committee Picnic "Riverside" Presbyterian Church, USA 525 Riverside Ave. Founded April 5, 1831 . . . — — Map (db m156060) HM WM
84 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Bridge Loft/Charging House —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.3 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
This area of the furnace complex, known as the "bridge loft" or "charging house," spanned the distance between the cliff and the top of the furnace and provided access to the "tunnel head." The tunnel head was the opening in the top of the . . . — — Map (db m308671) HM
85 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Buckeye Furnace
On Buckeye Park Road (Local Road 167) at Buckeye Road (Local Road 165), on the left when traveling south on Buckeye Park Road. Reported missing.
Buckeye Furnace was the second charcoal-fueled iron furnace to be built along Raccoon Creek. The furnace, constructed in 1851 by Thomas Price, was financed by Newkirk, Daniels and Company under the name of Buckeye Furnace Company. In its early . . . — — Map (db m158814) HM
86 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Buckeye Furnace (1851 - 1894) —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
Buckeye Furnace was the second charcoal-fueled iron furnace to be built along Raccoon Creek. The furnace, constructed in 1851 by Thomas Price, was financed by Newkirk, Daniels, and Company under the name of Buckeye Furnace Company. In its early . . . — — Map (db m166682) HM
87 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Buckeye Furnace Covered Bridge —
On Buckeye Road (County Road 165) 0.1 miles east of Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167), on the right when traveling east.
The covered bridge era in America was from the nineteenth century. The last covered bridge of this period was built by the State of Ohio in Vinton County in 1919, Bridges were enclosed to protect the wooden structural parts and decks from rain . . . — — Map (db m308672) HM
88 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Charcoal —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
The production of charcoal began in the forests surrounding the furnace. The first step occurred when woodcutters felled the trees that would be used to make charcoal. Because each ton of iron produced required six cords of wood, the forests . . . — — Map (db m166688) HM
89 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Engine House —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
The conversion of iron ore into molten iron required very high temperatures. To raise the temperature, compressed air was pumped into the furnace (1). A steam engine located in this building provided the power needed to compress the air . . . — — Map (db m166678) HM
90 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Furnace Communities —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.1 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
Because furnaces were often located in isolated areas, new communities usually sprang up around them. Each community had a store, a church, a school, and dwellings to house the workers and their families. • Each furnace had its own school . . . — — Map (db m166685) HM
91 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Hanging Rock Region
On Buckeye Park Road (Local Road 167) at Buckeye Road (Local Road 165) on Buckeye Park Road. Reported permanently removed.
Charcoal iron production in Ohio was centered in the Hanging Rock Region, a geographic area extending from Hocking County to the Ohio River and including portions of northern Kentucky. The region encompassed an 1800 square mile area that was rich . . . — — Map (db m26428) HM
92 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Hanging Rock Region —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) just north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the left when traveling north.
Charcoal iron production in Ohio was centered in the Hanging Rock Region, a geographic area that extends from Hocking County to the Ohio River and includes portions of northern Kentucky. The region encompassed a 1,800 square mile area that was . . . — — Map (db m158856) HM
93 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Labor at Charcoal Iron Furnace —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
Work at an iron furnace, like most nineteenth century industrial jobs, was low paying, uncertain, and dangerous. Most furnaces operated at the edge of bankruptcy and, because nearly all were small-scale operations, they could not weather the . . . — — Map (db m313007) HM
94 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Limestone —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
An old limestone quarry, with stone used for fluxing, Jackson Furnace, Jackson County. Limestone was another basic ingredient used in the iron-making process. Because of the difficulty in transporting the heavy stone long distances, it was . . . — — Map (db m166687) HM
95 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Raw Materials —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the left when traveling north.
The iron-making process required three basic ingredients: iron ore, charcoal, and limestone. When mixed in proper amounts and subjected to intense heat in the furnace, these ingredients combined to produce molten iron and a waste material called . . . — — Map (db m166690) HM
96 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Scales
On Buckeye Park Road (Local Route 167), on the left when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
Teamsters regularly delivered and picked up materials at Buckeye Furnace. The value of raw materials, such as iron ore and limestone, purchased by the furnace, as well as the pig iron to be shipped to buyers, had to be determined by weighing each . . . — — Map (db m26501) HM
97 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Scales —
Near Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) at Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
Teamsters regularly delivered and picked up materials at Buckeye Furnace. Each load of raw materials that the furnace purchased, and pig iron produced was weighed. Scales were used to weigh the wagons that transported the raw materials and pig iron. . . . — — Map (db m158854) HM
98 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Shipment of Iron —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Buckeye Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling north.
The shipment of pig iron was a continual problem at Buckeye Furnace. When Buckeye Furnace was constructed, the owners planned to ship the iron on small boats down the Little Raccoon Creek. After unpredictable water levels in the stream made this . . . — — Map (db m313008) HM
99 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Stock Shed
Near Buckeye Park Road. Reported permanently removed.
This building, known as the stock shed, was used primarily as a storage area for charcoal, the fuel used to reduce the raw iron to a molten state. — — Map (db m26515) HM
100 ► Ohio, Jackson County, Buckeye Furnace — Stock Shed —
On Buckeye Park Road (County Road 167) 0.2 miles north of Ridgeland Road (County Road 165), on the right when traveling east.
The stock shed was used primarily as a storage area for charcoal, which was the fuel used to reduce raw iron to a molten state. [Caption:] Monroe Furnace in Jackson County was the largest blast furnace in southeastern Ohio, . . . — — Map (db m313004) HM

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Nov. 11, 2026