Clay Furnace is the
pioneer of the kind in Mercer County. It was built by B. B. Vincent and David Himrod,
of Erie, under the firm name of Vincent & Himrod, in the spring
of 1845. Francis Allen came from Erie in February of the foregoing
year, and acted astheir manager in its construction and operation. It
was a small furnace, eight foot bosh and forty-five feet high. It was
built for the purpose of working native ore with charcoal, and produced
seven gross tons of pig iron per day—a wonder to the people. The name, Clay
Furnace, was given to the plant in honor of Kentucky’s
eloquent statesman, Henry Clay.
It has already been stated that Mr. Allen, now of Hickory Township
(Hermitage Post-office), was general manager. Carson
Davis came from Erie two months later than Mr. Allen, and
was employed as founder, which position he held about a year, when he
removed to Sharon Furnace, and occupied a similar position there. In
the spring of 1848 he returned to Clay Furnace, and occupied his old
place for several years, when be bought a farm, distant about a mile
from the furnace. On it he is still living.
Clay
Furnace was put in blast July 10. 1843,using charcoal and native ore. Vincent & Himrod
continued to run the furnace until 1851, when they sold it to the
Sharon Iron Company. This company finally sold it to individual
stockholders of said company, who were organized under the style of the
Iron Mountain Furnace Company about 1854. In 1861 they abandoned it,
selling the whole plant to Francis
Allen for $5,000, who sold it out by tid-bits, thus
saving himself financially. This furnace could not compete successfully
with other establishments along the lines of communication. At present
scarcely a vestige of the old pioneer remains to tell its interesting
history.
History
of Mercer County, 1888, pgs 191-192
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Clay Furnace Historical
Marker on Rte. 62
"First
successful use of raw bitumuous coal in place of charcoal, 1846; and of
unmixed Lake Superior iron ore in 1856. Built in 1845 by Vincent
&
Himrod; named for Henry Clay. Abandoned in 1861. The site is 2 miles
away."
Street Sign at the intersection of Rte. 62
and Clay Furnace Road
Possible remains of Clay Furnace. 2 miles
north of Rte. 62 on Clay Furnace Rd.
Click to
enlarge
First
Blast furnace...
article from Sharon's Yesterdays and Tomorrow, 1935.
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