Fitchburg Furnace
Fitchburg Furnace is one of the “must see” stops for the serious iron furnace enthusiast. Also known as the Red River Furnace, Fitchburg is operated by the U.S. Park Service and is in excellent shape. The furnace is actually two stacks, Blackstone (on the Left) and Chandler (on the Right). The furnace is a solid mass of sandstone built sixty feet high. The base measures forty feet by eighty feet, the interior stacks are fifty feet tall, with twelve and a half foot boshes. They were steam blast, charcoal furnaces with a daily output of twenty-five tons. Built with a total investment of $160,000, they are an impressive sight. The furnaces alone cost $100,000, the remaining money being invested in equipment.
Fitchburg was built largely on greed and speculation. The over speculation in western railroads during the latter part of the 1860′s led many businessmen to become involved in iron production during this period. The fact that the furnace was built as a charcoal furnace when many were converting to coal is clear evidence that experienced furnace owners were not involved. The furnace closed in the Panic of 1873 when the speculation bubble broke, causing a short recession. Additionally, the discovery of iron ore beds in Birmingham, Alabama reduced the need for southern buyers to purchase iron from the Kentucky area.
The furnace utilized limonite (limestone) ore that is found under beds of clay and white shale. A typical charge included 3 tons of ore, 179 bushels of charcoal, and 1.8 tons of limestone flux. Over 1,000 men worked at Fitchburg when it was in operation.
-Information obtained from www.kaht.net & www.oldindusty.org.
Fitchburg was built largely on greed and speculation. The over speculation in western railroads during the latter part of the 1860′s led many businessmen to become involved in iron production during this period. The fact that the furnace was built as a charcoal furnace when many were converting to coal is clear evidence that experienced furnace owners were not involved. The furnace closed in the Panic of 1873 when the speculation bubble broke, causing a short recession. Additionally, the discovery of iron ore beds in Birmingham, Alabama reduced the need for southern buyers to purchase iron from the Kentucky area.
The furnace utilized limonite (limestone) ore that is found under beds of clay and white shale. A typical charge included 3 tons of ore, 179 bushels of charcoal, and 1.8 tons of limestone flux. Over 1,000 men worked at Fitchburg when it was in operation.
-Information obtained from www.kaht.net & www.oldindusty.org.
Directions:
From I-75: Take the Richmond/Irvine Exit 90A (southbound) or 90 (northbound). As you exit the interstate, you will be on the Richmond Bypass, Rt. 25. Proceed East on 25 several miles to a LEFT onto 52 East at the Jeep/Chrysler dealership, stoplight #13. Follow 52 East 20 miles to Irvine. Go through Irvine / Ravenna (turn right at courthouse, stoplight #3) proceed about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through the intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along the river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From I-64: Take the Winchester / Paris Exit 96 and proceed south to Hwy 89 and on to Irvine. Or take the Mount. Sterling Exit and pick up Hwy 11 to Clay City, turn right onto 15,cross over the Mt. Parkway, then take Hwy 82 and HWY 89 to Irvine. Follow Rt. 52 East through Irvine / Ravenna (turn left at courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From Mountain Parkway: You can take the Beattyville Exit 40 to 715 to 11 to 498 to 52 West to 1182 to 975… Or Slade exit (Hwy. 11) to 498 to 52 West to 1182 to 975…Or Clay City / Irvine Exit (Hwy. 82) to HWY 89 Irvine. Turn LEFT onto 52 (LEFT turn at the courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From Irvine: Follow 52 East through Irvine / Ravenna (turn at courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From I-75: Take the Richmond/Irvine Exit 90A (southbound) or 90 (northbound). As you exit the interstate, you will be on the Richmond Bypass, Rt. 25. Proceed East on 25 several miles to a LEFT onto 52 East at the Jeep/Chrysler dealership, stoplight #13. Follow 52 East 20 miles to Irvine. Go through Irvine / Ravenna (turn right at courthouse, stoplight #3) proceed about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through the intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along the river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From I-64: Take the Winchester / Paris Exit 96 and proceed south to Hwy 89 and on to Irvine. Or take the Mount. Sterling Exit and pick up Hwy 11 to Clay City, turn right onto 15,cross over the Mt. Parkway, then take Hwy 82 and HWY 89 to Irvine. Follow Rt. 52 East through Irvine / Ravenna (turn left at courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From Mountain Parkway: You can take the Beattyville Exit 40 to 715 to 11 to 498 to 52 West to 1182 to 975… Or Slade exit (Hwy. 11) to 498 to 52 West to 1182 to 975…Or Clay City / Irvine Exit (Hwy. 82) to HWY 89 Irvine. Turn LEFT onto 52 (LEFT turn at the courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.
From Irvine: Follow 52 East through Irvine / Ravenna (turn at courthouse, stoplight #3). Follow 52 about 2 miles to flashing yellow light. Go straight through intersection and pick up 1571. Follow 1571 under railroad, and left along river. Follow 5.5 miles until it stops at 52 again (you will have bypassed Tipton Ridge). Turn left onto 52 west, go 1.3 miles to intersection of 1182, 975 and 52. Turn right onto 1182 and then IMMEDIATELY LEFT onto 975. Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is at the end of 975 (3.2 miles). Once you enter the camp property, the furnace will be on your left.