From Ethel Armes Book,

The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama:

” … Horace Ware had built at his furnace at Shelby a large rolling mill with a capacity of twelve tons of heavy and small-size finished bar iron. This was the first and parent rolling mill plant for Alabama. … On April 4, 1860, the mill engine was started and all the machinery properly adjusted, and on April 11th, 1860, this mill turned out Alabama’s first day’s product of finished bar iron, the beginning of an era in her history as an iron manufacturing state.”

Shelby’s rolling mill was destined to become Alabama’s major supplier of Confederate iron. The mill was destroyed on March 31, 1865 by troops of General Emory Upton’s Division of Wilson’s Cavalry Corps. It was never rebuilt.
In the Spring of 1994, Dr. Jack Bergstresser, Sr. PhD and a team of archeologists from PanAmerican Consultants, Inc. began a preliminary archeological investigation of a portion of the rolling mill. Joining in the dig were students of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and members of the Historic Shelby Association.
The excavation was funded in part through a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission and partial matching funds by the Historic Shelby Association.
The photo above is the measured drawing of the portion of the rolling mill that was excavated.

Robert Brasher, first President of Historic Shelby Association, works to clear remaining debris overlay from a section of the rolling mill floor during our archeological excavation in 1994. The dig was conducted under the direction of industrial archeologist Dr. Jack Bergstresser, Jr., PhD.
The Shelby rolling mill was destroyed on March 31, 1865.

From Anthony and Hills Pictorial History, Confederate Longarms and Pistols:

“In 1861, William Dickson, Owen O. Nelson and Dr. Lewis H. Sadler started the Shakanoosa Arms Co. in Dickson, Ala. They received a contract from the state of Alabama for 5,000 Mississippi rifles (Model 1841) and bayonets. Records show that from October 1,1863 to November 1,1864 the state received 645 rifles against this contract. Shortly after the armory was started, it had to be moved to Rome, Ga. Here, it was in operation for several months until there was a fire which destroyed the plant. Next the armory was moved to Adairsville, Ga. and then settled in Dawson, Ga. around March of 1864. The armory remained in operation until the end of the war. The Shelby Works supplied the iron for the arms made at Dickson, Nelson & Co.”

See photos and description of this rifle here: http://www.antiquesandguns.com/dixonnelson.html The rifle is called “a Holy Grail of Confederate Collecting.”

Above is a shot from the tracks of the depot in Shelby as it appeared in 1946. Although Shelby Iron ceased manufacturing operations in 1923, the company remained in business well into the mid 20th century. The depot remained a thriving and important location for Shelby residents. In 1946, the post office  still occupied the original 1870 building located less than100 yards from the depot, Mail coming in on the train would be loaded onto carts and pulled to the nearby building. Shelby residents would gather daily to “meet the train” for mail, freight, and, of course, to see who was entering or departing town on one of the passenger trains.

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.

From the late 1800’s well into the 20th century, Shelby was a bustling hub of business and commerce. Shelby’s wide streets were lined with store fronts of every description. Above is a 1950’s photo of Pate Brothers  Mercantile, which was founded by G. W. Pate. The store was still in operaton at this time, though Shelby’s golden era had long passed. This photo shows one of three different businesses that occupied this large building.

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.

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.

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.”

20th Annual

Shelby Iron Works Festival

Sat & Sun,  October 10th-11th, 2009

Come help us celebrate the past 

as our annual

Fall tradition continues.

This year’s scheduled festival happenings include,

but may not be limited to:

*Antique Tractors & Parade

*Antique Autos

*Shelby Iron Works Own Syrup Mill in Operation

*The Recently Upgraded & Refurbished Museum 

*Our New Industrial Museum

*Music Both Days

*Civil War & Revolutionary War Re-enactors

*1870s Era Saw Mill in Operation

*Grist Mill

*Blacksmiths

“Good Ol’ Country Cookin’

*Our almost World Famous Old Shelby Boiled Peanuts

*Hay Rides & Rail Motor Car Rides

*Corn Shucking

*Colonial Medicine

*Vendors – Antiques, Kincknacks, Crafts & More.

All at Shelby Iron Works Park

where you’ll meet more friendly folks

than you can shake a stick at.