Works at Shelby Iron

This early photo, which was entitled “Works at Shelby Iron Co.”, is from a stereograph. Shelby furnaces’ insatiable appetite for charcoal provided many local families a source of income, with charcoal mounds dotting the landscape in wooded areas surrounding Shelby. The iron company at times also purchased train car loads of charcoal from colliers outside the area. All this in addition to the 40 beehive shaped charcoal ovens owned by the Iron Works. These 40 ovens were of brick construction and each had a capacity of 40 cords of wood.  Four of those charcoal ovens can be seen on the right in the photo. The sheds in front of the ovens were used for storing the charcoal.

Shelby Iron Works in 1880′s

The iron works underwent major reconstruction and additions in 1868 and the early 1880′s. This photo shows Shelby Iron Works as it appeared in the 1880′s.
Just off the photo, mid left, would have been the rail road scales used to weigh iron laden cars prepared for shipment. The white front, arched building on the left of this photo is furnace nunber 1. The next building to the right, partially obscured by trees, is furnace number 2. “The Queen of American Charcoal Furnaces.”
The roofline which is visible to the right of furnace number 2 is probably a charcoal shed.
The second building from the right is the machine shop. The chimney visible behind this building still stands today and is a part of Shelby Iron Works Park.
The building on the far right is the foundry.
Next to this building, but off the photo, would have stood the carpenters shop, blacksmith shop, and stables.

Shelby Furnace is Blown In

from the “Shelby County Sun” newspaper, December 1, 1911

On the night of Tuesday, November 21st., Shelby Iron Co’s No. 2 furnace at Shelby, Ala., was blown in, it being the twenty-first blast for this stack. Miss Maddie Elliott, of Vincent, Ala., acting as mascot, applied the torch, made of bundles of waste,saturated with oil, attached to a long pole, which was adorned with a beautiful bow and streamers of white ribbon.
A large number of Shelby people, principally those most interested in the operations of the works and their families, gathered at the New Dannemora Hotel, where they were received by Miss Greene and Mr. Joe Ramsey. assisted by Mrs. Trost and Mrs. Ingersoll. About 9 o’clock the word was passed that all was in readiness. Preceeded by the Shelby band, a procession was formed and all marched to the furnace where the manager, Mr. Keffer, in an appropriate manner, introduced Miss Elliott as the mascot. The torch was then applied and as it was seen that the fire was properly kindled, a murmur of satisfaction ran through the crowd who had gathered to see the real beginning of, what all Shelbyites hope and believe, will be a New Era in Shelby. Mr. Keffer again requested the attention of all, and in his most charming manner, presented the mascot, on behalf of the employees of Shelby Iron Company, with a beautiful gold bracelet. Miss Elliott, in a few well chosen words, expressed her pleasure at the honor of being the one to light this blast and her sincere appreciation of the beautiful gift. Mr. Keffer referred humorously to the good-luck omen of the fact that this was the 21st blast, beginning on the 21st day of the month. While these ceremonies were taking place, the band played almost continuously, and just as the torch was being applied, they rendered “A hot time in the old town tonight”.
Shortly after the presentation ceremony, all the invited guests returned to the hotel where Miss Vivian Greene, and Mr. Joe Ramsey, very appreciably assisted by Mrs. Ingersoll, had arranged a delightful programme for the evening’s entertainment, at which the mascot was the guest of honor. There was an old fashioned spelling match, Mr. Searless and Mr. Trost selecting opposite sides. Mr. Keffer being the Professor. Mrs. Ferrar won first prize, a beautiful box of paper, and Mr. Brymer was awarded the consolation prize, a bottle of toilet water. In a contest, the answers in which were the names of noted personnages, there were four perfect scores and it was necessary to resort to the old time method of drawing straws to determine the winner. Miss Attie Ingersoll and Mr. Farrar, partners, won the prize. After this contest, a salad course was served, followed by delicious nut ice cream. Mr. Farrar presided as toastmaster, and in a brief talk, spoke of the loyalty and good will existing among Shelby’s people and expressed the sentiment of those present towards the manager, Mr. Keffer, who coming from the North, where conditions, both in business and socially, are so different from those here, has by his charming personality and stalwart character, endeared himseld to all and won for himself an enviable place in the esteem of his daily associates.
After the toasting and speechmaking, it was announced that dancing was now in order and that pleasant pastime was indulged in until after midnight, when the happy participants in this memorable event prepared to leave, all expressing their appreciation of and delight in the evening’s celebration.

“The Queen of American Charcoal Furnaces”

So described in 1880 by John Birkinbine, founder of the United States Association of Charcoal Iron Workers, after visits to various Southern iron furnaces. In the group’s publication, Journal of the U.S. Association of Charcoal Iron workers, Birkinbine wrote:
“We make no invidious comparisons nor detract from any
other furnace when we say that the Shelby Iron Works is
the Queen of American charcoal furnaces. Whatever money
could do to make a complete works has been done here.”

Giles Edwards at Shelby Iron

In March of 1862, noted Welsh iron-master Giles Edwards came to Shelby Iron.
Born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, September 26, 1824, Edwards had, by about 1842, made his way to Carbondale, Pennsylvania, near the head of the Lackawanna River. There, he superintended pattern making at the first iron mill in that town.
Edwards later worked with mills at Scranton, and superintended the Thomas works at Tamaqua, Pa.
From Pennsylvania, Edwards moved south to Tennessee, where he supervised the rebuilding of the Bluff furnace at Chattanooga.
Following this reconstruction, Judge John Lapsley of Selma, a new shareholder at Shelby, requested Edwards to superintend the reconstruction and expansion of the Shelby works.