Fayette was a booming company town from 1867-1891 producing pig iron using charcoal.
First off, a free 20 minute town tour.
Then we were on our own to explore the buildings, most were open with wonderful displays.
Here Bob is lifting a hefty 100 pound pig.
This is a photo of how the pigs were cast, in sand. The molten iron flowed from the furnace in a ditch into the rows of preformed pig forms, the molten iron is the lighter color in the photo.
The casting room today.
The two blast furnaces with the casting room on either side.
Since this blast furnace burnt charcoal, they produced charcoal right on site. The building you see on the right, is the casting room. This reconstructed charcoal kiln would haven been loaded from the top, using the timber framework built around it. It smoldered for about eight days before it was done, the person in charge of the kiln knew it was done by the color of the smoke coming out the top. It was then ready to be used in the furnace. It took over 80 kilns in the area to feed these two hungry giants.
Here are the remains of an actual charcoal kiln.
One of the houses was left to show how they were built using the lathe and plaster.
This is ‘Then’ photo.
Here is the ‘Now’ version less a few buildings. The third and fifth buildings plus the hotel, from above, are in the ‘now’ photo.
These well mended mittens were on display. Times were tough and the folks had to make do.
While watching the sunset on slag beach, I found this canning Ball canning lid. The word Ball was raised a little.
A piece of slag from the beach area.
We had a great day stepping back more than a century in time.
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