Henry Clay Furnace

The Henry Clay Furnace is a historic iron furnace located along Quarry Run in Monongalia County, West Virginia.

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The Henry Clay Furnace is a historic iron furnace located along Quarry Run in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Construction began in 1834, and the furnace became operational in 1836. ^{1 2} It was the first steam-powered blast furnace in western Virginia. ⁴ Leonard Lamb built the furnace for the firm of Tassey & Bissell. ^{1 2}

The furnace was fueled by charcoal and operated with a cold-air blast powered by a blowing engine. ^{1 2} At peak production, it produced approximately four tons of pig iron per day. Approximately 200 people were employed at the site, and a small company town developed nearby, comprising roughly 100 houses, a store, a church, and a school. ¹

In 1839, the furnace was sold to the Ellicott family, who constructed a network of wooden tramways to transport iron ore from nearby pits to the furnace. ^{1 2} Until 1845, all iron produced at the site was floated down the Cheat River for shipment. The Henry Clay Furnace continued operations until 1847.

Iron production in Monongalia County commenced in 1798 with the initiation of two blast furnaces and a forge. ³ By 1823, northern West Virginia housed at least seven blast furnaces and three forges. In 1850, Monongalia County contained six furnaces, Preston County two, Marion County three, Harrison County two, and Barbour County one. However, the industry began to decline by the onset of the Civil War due to depleting timber and iron ore reserves, coupled with an underdeveloped transportation system.

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Sources

1. Informational signage.
2. Markiel, J. “Henry Clay.” Old Industry 2006.
3. Maddex, Lee R. “Virginia Furnace.” National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form. 19 Oct. 1998.
4. “Coopers Rock State Forest Overview & History.” West Virginia State Parks.