Falling Creek Ironworks facts for kids
|
Falling Creek Ironworks Archeological Site
|
|
Western section of the site
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Richmond, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1619 |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000242 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1995 |
The Falling Creek Ironworks was a very important place in early American history. It was the first ever iron factory in North America! This factory was built by the Virginia Company of London in 1619. It was located in an area called Henrico Cittie, right by Falling Creek where it meets the James River.
Sadly, the ironworks didn't last long. It was destroyed during a major conflict with Native American tribes in 1622. For a long time, people didn't know exactly where the site was. But in the early 2000s, it was found again! Today, it's in Chesterfield County, about 5 miles (8 km) south of Richmond, Virginia. Scientists are still studying the site to learn more about it.
Contents
Why was Falling Creek a good spot for an ironworks?
The land in Virginia changes a lot. Near the coast, it's sandy and flat. But as you go inland, it becomes more hilly and rocky. This change happens along a line called the Fall Line.
Near Richmond, the James River flows almost south for a while. On the west side of the river, the hilly land had the right kind of ore (rock with iron in it) that was needed to make iron. Plus, the river was deep enough for ships to travel, which was great for moving supplies and finished iron.
A local stream, Falling Creek, flowed downhill into the James River. This fast-moving water was perfect for powering the machinery at the ironworks. So, Falling Creek had everything needed: iron ore, water power, and easy river access.
History of the Ironworks
Setting up the Virginia Colony
The Virginia Company of London was a company that helped set up the first lasting English settlement in America. This settlement was Jamestown, founded on May 14, 1607. For many years, the young colony struggled. Many early colonists died from sickness, hunger, or conflicts with Native Americans.
After 1612, the colonists started growing different kinds of tobacco. This became a very important cash crop (a crop grown to sell for money). Because of tobacco, more farms and small towns started to spread out from Jamestown. They moved both downstream and up the James River, reaching as far as the "fall line" near what is now Richmond.
Building the First Ironworks
The colonists found the perfect spot for their iron factory near where Falling Creek met the James River. This place had all the right things: iron ore, water power, and a way to ship goods by river. Even though it was one of the farthest outposts from Jamestown, the Falling Creek Ironworks was built there in 1619. It was a huge step, becoming the very first iron production factory in all of North America.
Records show that the ironworks did manage to make some iron. However, we don't know if it was fully up and running before its operations were stopped. This happened during a major attack by Native American tribes in 1622.
On March 22, 1622, the Powhatan Confederacy of Native American tribes, led by Chief Opechancanough, launched surprise attacks on almost all the English settlements along the James River. Jamestown was lucky and received a warning, so it was saved. But about one-third of the colonists living in other areas lost their lives. At Falling Creek Ironworks, 27 colonists were killed, including two women and three children. Only two colonists survived, and the entire facility was destroyed. As a result, a nearby settlement called Henricus also had to be abandoned.
What happened next?
After the 1622 attack, the ironworks was not rebuilt right away. Much later, from 1750 to 1781, a man named Archibald Cary ran a forge (a type of workshop for shaping metal) at the site. But this forge was also destroyed during the American Revolutionary War by Benedict Arnold. Later attempts to bring the ironworks back to life didn't work out, and over time, the exact location of the site was forgotten.
Finding the Lost Ironworks Again
For many years, no one knew the exact spot of the Falling Creek Ironworks. But that changed recently! In 2006, heavy rains caused the creek bank to wear away. This uncovered some old wooden timbers that were part of the furnace structure.
In early 2007, an employee from Chesterfield County, who was also an amateur archaeologist (someone who studies old things), spotted these timbers. It's believed that the rest of the furnace is still buried in the creek bank.
People had suspected the location of the ironworks for a long time. Several archaeological digs and surveys were done by different groups, including the Archaeological Society of Virginia and The College of William and Mary. However, the exact spot of the blast furnace (the main part of the iron-making factory) was only confirmed in 1999. This happened when a company called Archaeo-Physics used special equipment to do a detailed survey of the ground. They found a large magnetic "hot spot" that matched where a furnace hearth (the part where the fire was) would have been. They also found signs of other structures, which might have been buildings connected to the Falling Creek Ironworks or Archibald Cary's later forge.
