Kenton Furnace

Historical marker location:

Newport, Kentucky

( 4th & Park Ave., Newport)

Built at foot of Park Avenue in 1869 by the Kenton Iron Co., to supply iron to a foundry making pipe and structural materials. It was 58 ft. high and 15 ft. across at widest point inside, burning coke fuel and powered by steam. In 1877, the machinery was taken down, and assembled again at Greendale, Ohio, beginning to operate in 1879. See other side.(Reverse) 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, and munitions throughout the northern and western portions of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Old charcoal-furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads.

Iron Industry