"Henry Clay Iron Furnace
Henry Clay Iron Furnace, located on
Quarry Run, was built between 1834 and 1836 by Leonard Lamb
for Tassey and Bissell. It was a coldblast furnace and
produced 4 tons of pig iron each 24 hours. It was one of
several furnaces that were operated in this area during the
nineteenth century and was used until about 1847.
About 200 people were employed at the
furnace. It was the center of the community of over a
hundred dwellings with a store, church and schoolhouse.
Ownership of the furnace was conveyed
in 1839 to the Ellicotts who built a system of wooden railed
tramways that ran through the mountains connecting the
furnaces and ore pits. Until 1845 all of the iron produced
was floated down the Cheat River.
The pattern of industrial development
is constantly changing. The iron industry cycle on Cheat
Mountain is now complete."
