Fitchburg Furnace facts for kids
The Fitchburg Furnace is a very old and important iron furnace. It is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Estill County, Kentucky. This huge furnace helped make iron a long time ago.
Quick facts for kids |
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Fitchburg Furnace
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Fitchburg Furnace before Completion of Restoration Work
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 Location in Kentucky
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| Location | 1875 Fitchburg Rd, Ravenna, Kentucky, United States |
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| Built | 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000860 |
Contents
Fitchburg Furnace: A Giant of Iron
The Fitchburg Furnace is special for many reasons. It is the largest charcoal iron furnace in the world. It was also the very last one built in Kentucky. When it was built, it used the newest technology available.
The main part of the furnace has two tall towers. These towers are made from local sandstone. The stones were fitted together without using mortar, which is called "dry laid stone masonry." This type of building is considered one of the best in the world. The entire structure is huge, measuring 115 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 65 feet high. Many new ideas first used here were later copied by other furnaces.
Building and Operating the Furnace
Fred Fitch designed the furnace, and Sam Worthley, a stone mason from Scotland, built it. It was finished in 1869. The Red River Iron Works company operated it.
What makes it truly unique is that it has two furnaces built into one single structure. It worked from 1870 to 1874. During this time, it employed over 1,000 men. In 1870 alone, this furnace made 10,000 tons of "pig iron." Pig iron is a basic type of iron that needs more processing before it can be used. This amount of iron was worth more than $60,000 back then!
Iron Making in Kentucky
Making pig iron was one of Kentucky's first big industries. Kentucky started producing iron in 1791. By the 1830s, it was the third-largest iron producer in the United States. Even in 1865, it was still 11th in the country.
Estill County, where the furnace is located, was one of the first places in the U.S. to have early factories. Iron mining and smelting (melting ore to get metal) began there in 1810. The iron industry was very strong in Estill County for many years. Today, you can still see the ruins of other furnaces there, like the Estill furnace and the Cottage furnace.
The Furnace's Decline and Revival
After 1879, the iron industry in this area started to slow down. This happened for a few reasons:
- The old methods used at furnaces like Fitchburg became outdated.
- New iron production started in other places, especially around the Great Lakes.
- The local supply of iron ore and timber (wood for charcoal) began to run out.
When the furnace was built, a town called Fitchburg grew up around it. This town was busy and thriving while the furnace was working. However, after the furnace closed, the town disappeared. Today, there is nothing left to show that Fitchburg ever existed.
Originally, the furnace had several buildings connected to it. Now, only the stone core remains. For many years, this structure was neglected. Stones fell out, one corner was even damaged by dynamite, and trees started growing on top. However, since 2004, much of this damage has been fixed. The US Forest Service and private donors now help maintain the furnace.
Visiting the Furnace Today
Today, the Fitchburg Furnace is a historic site you can visit. It is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Ravenna, Kentucky. It's a great place to learn about Kentucky's industrial past.
