Star Furnace
Built in 1848 by A. McCullough and Lampton Brothers. Its stone stack was 36 feet high, 111/2 feet across inside at widest point, and burned "stone coal" rather than charcoal. It was served by its own railroad spur. In 1866 it produced 2600 tons of iron, 1958 tons in 1871. The last blast was in 1874. See 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.