Cottage Furnace is an abandoned pig iron furnace in the Red River Iron Region in Estill County, Kentucky.
Mason and Wheeler constructed Cottage Furnace in 1854, located in the Red River Iron Region of Estill County, Kentucky. This furnace, standing 35 feet tall, utilized charcoal as fuel and a steam engine to power its hot air blast. In a span of 18 weeks during 1857, it produced 725 tons of iron.
In 1859, the McKinney brothers—David, James, Joel, Matthew, and Thomas—purchased Cottage Furnace. Initially, the operation involved slave labor, but the McKinneys were known for their fair and honest treatment of slaves. They were among the first in the region to emancipate their slaves following the Civil War.
The furnace ceased operations in 1879 following a personal tragedy for Joel McKinney. Upon learning of his son’s sudden death, Joel neglected to tap the furnace, leading to its permanent closure.
Directions: Cottage Furnace can be viewed from Forest Route 231 within the Daniel Boone National Forest in Estill County, Kentucky.
