Washington Iron Furnace facts for kids
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Washington Iron Furnace
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Exterior view Washington Iron Furnace
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 Old Furnace Rd., Rocky Mount, Virginia |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | c. 1770 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002014 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1973 |
Washington Iron Furnace is a very old iron-making furnace. It is located in Rocky Mount, Virginia, in Franklin County, Virginia. This furnace was built from strong granite stone around the year 1770. It stands about 30 feet tall on its south side.
The furnace was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Today, it is one of the best-preserved old furnaces in Virginia. It was built into the side of a hill. This design made it easy to load materials. Workers could bring iron ore, charcoal, and limestone by wagon. Then, they would dump these materials into the top of the furnace. The old road and bridge that led to the top are no longer there.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Furnace
Building the Iron Furnace
The Washington Iron Furnace was first built around 1770. It was created by John Donelson and his son-in-law, John Caffery. John Donelson is known as the father of Rachel Donelson. Rachel later married Andrew Jackson, who became a U.S. President.
Donelson and Caffery ran the furnace for about ten years. At first, the ironworks was simply called "The Bloomery". A bloomery is a type of furnace that makes iron.
Iron for a New Nation
This ironworks played an important part in history. It supplied iron to the Patriot forces during the American Revolutionary War. This was the war where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain.
In 1773, the furnace had a team of workers. Four white men and six enslaved people worked there. They moved raw materials, kept the fires burning, and did other tasks. The house where the ironmaster lived is still standing today. It is known as The Farm.
New Owners and a New Name
In 1779, John Donelson moved away to Tennessee. He sold "The Bloomery" to James Callaway and Jeremiah Early. Both men were from Bedford County, Virginia. Callaway and Early decided to rename the furnace. They called it "Washington Iron Forge" to honor George Washington. George Washington was a very important leader. He led the American army in the Revolutionary War and became the first U.S. President.
Jeremiah Early passed away soon after. His share of the furnace went to his sons. Eventually, James Callaway became the sole owner of the furnace.
Growing Production and Later Years
In 1820, the Saunders brothers bought the furnace from Callaway's family. By 1836, the Washington mine and furnace were very busy. They employed 100 men. Each year, they produced about 160 tons of iron.
The furnace got its iron from a nearby mine. This mine had high-quality magnetite ore. Wagons pulled by horses carried the finished iron bars and castings. They traveled south on the Carolina Road to North Carolina and Alabama.
Sadly, the furnace stopped working around 1850. A dam on Furnace Creek, located uphill, reportedly broke. The rush of water cracked the hot furnace. The Saunders family did not rebuild it. The mine continued to operate until 1880. Another company, the Pigg River Mining Company, shipped ore to Pennsylvania. However, the costs became too high. The deepest parts of the mine went 75 feet underground. They soon filled with water.
