Princess Furnace
Built here in 1876-77, by Thomas W. Means (1803-90), for 50 years the leading figure in the iron industry of this area, owner of furnaces in Ky., Ohio, Va., Ala. This iron-jacketed stack burned "stone coal" because Buena Vista Furnace nearby had used all the charcoal timber on 6000 acres. Last blast, 1878. See the other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.
(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, 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.