Union Furnace ~ Diamond Furnace aka Withers, Ford, Fire-Eater Furnace, on Stamp Crk

All Text & Images: Copyright (2013)

The Union Furnace was built in 1852, and the property changed hands often in later years.   By the late 1850s, it was
operated by Daniel S. Ford and his son Francis Marion Ford; deeds show that in 1862 they used 800 tons of pig iron
to buy the land from John W. Lewis, with conveyances to A.J. Stroup and Samuel M. Earle.   Later that year, the Fords
sold the property to the Novelty Iron Works Co.   During the CW, John Withers was contracted to operate the furnace;
in later years it was known variously as Withers, Ford, and Fire-Eater Furnace.   In 1874, Willard P. Ward, using local
ores at the Diamond Furnace on Stamp Creek... made the first ferromanganese.   Ward and Arthur Guerard purchased
this property from Novelty Iron Works in 1876.   In 1877, Guerard sold his share of "the Diamond Furnace" to Ward.   In
1880, John Erskine purchased the property, which was known by that time as the Ward Furnace.

The center of the structure has collapsed into rubble.

Three corners and three wall segments are all that remain.

The up-slope wall is the largest remaining section.

The Union furnace is built high above the creek, in comparison to the others in the area. It seems a long way for a pipe to carry the bellows-driven air, and the 1857 Bulletin of the American Iron Association made note of this: "The cold air main is 50 yards long up hill."

"Withers Furnace" photo, taken by B.C. Yates and presented to Wilbur Kurtz in 1949. Wilbur G. Kurtz, Sr. collection, VIS 197, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center.

Ore map showing location of the Diamond Furnace Source: Report on the Mining Industries of the U.S., Pumpelly, 1886

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All Text & Images: Copyright 2013.