Historical Marker

Sandy Furnace

Built 1853 by Young, Foster & Co. (Dan and John Young, Wm. Foster, Irwin Gilruth), 4 mi. west on a 19,000 acre tract. Stone stack originally 32 ft. high, 101/2 ft. across inside. In 1854, its last year of operation, made 1000 tons of iron, which had to be hauled by oxcart across country to Big Sandy River. 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.