1054 Red River Iron Works
Address:
KY, USA
Category: Markers
Marker reads, Blackstone and Chandler Furnaces, a single stone structure 60 ft. high, 40 x 60 ft. Twin stacks 50 ft. high, 121/2 ft. across inside. Three miles north. Built in 1869 by Sam Worthley, designed by Fred Fitch, with steam-powered air blast, burning charcoal. Operated until 1874, producing 16,072 tons of iron. Fitchburg, chartered in 1871, no longer exists. Back of marker reads, 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, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads.
