Etna
Dates of Operation
Built: 1792
Re-built: 1815, 1842
Hot Blast Installed: 1861
Out of Blast: 1861 (lack of sufficient ore)
History
"Ætna Hot-blast Charcoal Furnace, Owned by Wm. Weaver, and managed by Charles K. Gorgas, and W.W. Rex, Pattonsburg, Botetourt county Virginia, situated on Purgatory Creek, two and a half miles northeast of Buchanan, and fourteen miles north of east from Fincastle, was built in 1792, and rebuilt in 1842, 9 feet across the bosh by about 35 feet high, and made in twenty two weeks of 1856 700 tons of metal out of brown hematite ore from Retreat bank six miles by wagon road, ten miles by railroad, distant to the north, mixed with "lump" ore from a bank three hundred yards west of furnace." (Lesley 1859, 73 See References)
Location
The furnace ruins are located approximately 1 mile northwest of the intersection with the service road at I-81 on route 611. It is visible from the road in the winter months. It is located across Purgatory Creek. It is located on private land.
Location Access
Observation available from public road. (Seasonal)
Category 3 Access: Restricted.
Significant sites limited to scholarly study by historians or industrial archeologists by appointment.
A complete list of all access categories may be found here.
At all sites, respect the property of others. Please remember that permission must be granted prior to entering private, posted or restricted properties. Industrial artifacts remain at many locations. Regardless of size, each artifact represents a bit of history; look but please do not remove. (Access System adapted from: Kirby 1998, 93 See References)
Photos
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Etna Furnace, North Surface 1989 |
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Etna Furnace, South Surface 1989 |
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Etna Furnace, North Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, North Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, South Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, South Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, South Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, West Surface 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, East Surface 2006 |
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Eetna Furnace, Retaining Wall for Waterwheel Pit 2006 |
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Furnace Lining - Still Smooth from Last Blast 2006 |
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Etna Furnace, Tie Rod 2006 |
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Purgatory Creek near Etna Furnace 2006 |
Further Reading
This site does not have any affiliation with nor receive any remuneration from these sites.
Click on the cover, title or choose a specific bookstore.
All links open in a new window.
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BOND OF IRON: MASTER AND SLAVE AT BUFFALO FORGE This book offers a very detailed account of the history of the Etna Furnace. It also offers a very well written and researched account of the living and working conditions at this particular furnace site. |