Early Iron Works
Posted by: 
geoprof123
N 37° 51.639 W 083° 55.265
17S E 243024 N 4194376
You never know what you might learn from a stop at a marker
Waymark Code: WMC2EV
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/17/2011
Views: 16
Marker Number 2015
County Powell
Location 4541 Main St. at Red River Museum, Clay City
Description
Though there is evidence of iron production in area even earlier, land was bought for this purpose, 1805, by Robert Clark Jr. and Wm. Smith. Known as Clark & Smith's Iron Works, 1805-1808. A blast furnace called Red River Iron Works operated here from 1808 to 1830. Rebuilt as Estill Steam Furnace on another site; closed in 1869. Presented by Red River Hist. Soc. with ISTEA Funds.
(Reverse) Clay City Timber Industry - With Kentucky Union Railway Company's track laid in Powell Co. in 1886, the area's timber industry expanded. Red River Lumber Mills (1880) became largest steampowered sawmill in Ky. In 1890, the steady run began at one of America's largest timber processing plants. A 1906 mill fire and deforestation of area's timber led to the end of "boom days" in Clay City.
Marker Name: Early Iron Works
Marker Location: City
Type of Marker: Other
Marker Number (for official markers): 2015
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky Department of Highways
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Visit Instructions:
A picture of the site or anything specific to the text on marker.