KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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A Masterful Retreat
(Marker Number: 637)

County: Carter
Location: 6 mi. S. of Grayson, KY 7

Description: Retreating from Cumberland Gap, General George W. Morgan's Union force of 8,000 men camped here September 1862. CSA Morgan's Raiders harassed USA, 30 miles along here; skirmishing, felling trees across roads and preempting food and supplies. Covering 200 miles in 16 days, USA reached Greenup on Ohio River Oct. 3, on way to Camp Dennison, Ohio. Map on other side.

(Subjects: Camps | Civil War | Morgan, George Washington | Morgan's Raiders)

A Masterful Retreat
(Marker Number: 642)

County: Carter
Location: Grayson, US 60

Description: As Gen. George W. Morgan's Union force, 8,000 when here, retreated from Cumberland Gap, they were harassed from West Liberty by CSA General John H. Morgan's Raiders. Failure of reinforcements to reach here caused Confederates to leave October 1, 1862 and rejoin main CSA force in Lexington. Union forces reached Greenup Oct. 3, 200 miles in 16 days. See map other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Morgan, George Washington | Morgan's Raiders)

Aviation Pioneer
(Marker Number: 1222)

County: Carter
Location: US 60 & KY 182

Description: Matthew Sellers, among first to experiment with gliding and power flight. Did this research at his home and laboratory, 6 mi. south, 1897-1911. Built most advanced wind tunnel of his day, 1903, to study lift and drag of various wing designs; and developed first use of retracting wheels, 1908, on powered plane said to be lightest ever flown. See over.

(Reverse) Matthew B. Sellers - Born in Baltimore, 1869, of parents who were Kentuckians. He was educated in Germany and France, receiving law degree at Harvard, 1892. Died in 1932. Among patents he received: 1908, airplane-type kite, prototype for later models; 1909, fourwing glider, basis for powered plane; 1911, power plane with retractable wheels; 1914, steering and wheel retraction improvements. See over. Presented by sons of Matthew Sellers.

(Subjects: Aviation)

Beckham County
(Marker Number: 1177)

County: Carter
Location: Olive Hill, US 60

Description: Created from parts of Carter, Lewis and Elliott counties with county seat here by legislative act signed February 9, 1904, by Governor J. C. W. Beckham, for whom it was named. C. C. Brooks appointed County Judge. On April 29, 1904, the Court of Appeals ruled that it failed to meet constitutional standards of size and population and ordered it dissolved.

(Subjects: Beckham, J.C.W.)

Boone Furnace
(Marker Number: 1013)

County: Carter
Location: KY 2 at KY 1773

Description: A stone blast furnace 3.5 miles west, built by Sebastian Eifort and others in 1856. Its last blast was in 1871. It produced 1400 tons of iron that year. It was originally 44 feet, 7 inches high, with a maximum diameter inside of 10.5 feet and a single tuyere, or pipe, for the steam-powered air blast. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.

(Reverse)

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Civil War Reunion
(Marker Number: 221)

County: Carter
Location: Ky. Christian College Campus, Old US 60, Grayson

Description: In their blue and gray uniforms, for over forty years, Civil War veterans gathered here annually. Around campfires, with song and story, friends and former foes revived war memories, and always a pilgrimage to graves of their comrades in cemetery on the hill.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forts and Stations)

County Named, 1838
(Marker Number: 1247)

County: Carter
Location: Grayson, Courthouse lawn, US 60

Description: For Col. William Grayson Carter, state senator, 1834-1838. The 88th Ky. county formed, 32nd in area, Carter was created from Greenup and Lawrence. Noted in early years for 5 iron furnaces, its clay products industry developed in late 1800's. Carter Caves, a major source of saltpeter during War of 1812, has been important tourist attraction since 1924.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Eastern Kentucky Railway
(Marker Number: 2096)

County: Carter
Location: Carol Malone Boulevard at city park, Grayson

Description: E. K. Railway purchased 25,000 acres of land in Little Sandy Valley at close of the Civil War. Tracks laid to this site June 10, 1871. Grayson was location of depot and repair shops. Stinson Branch was laid, 1893, with more straight track than any similar length in E. K. Railway main line. Service on E. K. Rwy. ended January 1933. Presented by Eastern Ky. Railway Historical Society and Collis P. Huntington Railway Historical Society.

(Subjects: Civil War | Railroads)

Eastern Kentucky Railway- Willard
(Marker Number: 2301)

County: Carter
Location: Junction of KY 1 & 1496, Willard

Description: In 1873, line was extended from Grayson to Willard. Located here were a turntable, water tower, railroad scales, & engine house. Near-by, the Lick Branch & Lost Creek spurs, as well as EK coal mines and coal camp existed. In 1892, an angry mob stole the EK train and, south of here, lynched Austin Porter.

On Oct. 31, 1905, 6 men attempted to rob the safe at the bank of Willard but were thwarted by locals. The robbers escaped using an EK engine. They fled afoot up Johns Run & were later captured. In the 1920s, for $7.20 a month, children took the Blue Goose to school from Willard each day.

(Subjects: Coal | Railroads | Schools)

Eastern Kentucky Railway-Hitchins
(Marker Number: 2246)

County: Carter
Location: KY 773, Hitchins

Description: Here the EK had a junction with the Elizabethtown, Lexington & Big Sandy Rwy that connected with the Ashland Coal and Iron Rwy in Denton. January 1882 both would become part of Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy. The EK and C&O shared a depot here. In December 1932, the EK ceased operations. Presented by EK Railroad Society, C & O Historical Society, & In Memory of Gary Mills.

(Subjects: Railroads)

Home of Gov. Fields
(Marker Number: 640)

County: Carter
Location: 1 mi. E. of Olive Hill, US 60

Description: "Honest Bill from Olive Hill." Home of Gov. William Jason Fields, 34th Governor of Kentucky, 1923-27. He promoted Kentucky's first grant of Federal aid for road construction, consolidation of schools, teacher-training colleges at Murray and Morehead. Member U.S. Congress, 1911-23, Commonwealth Attorney, 1932-33. Born 1874 and died 1954 in Carter County. Buried Olive Hill.

Hunnewell Furnace
(Marker Number: 1017)

County: Carter
Location: US 60 at KY 207

Description: Originally Greenup Furnace five miles north. Built 1845 by John Campbell, John Peters and John Culbertson. As rebuilt in 1870, it was 47 ft. high, 12 ft. across inside. Its yearly capacity 6000 tons of iron, mainly carried to Ohio River in ox carts, later by E. K. Railroad, which bought furnace. Last blast 1885. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.

(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Iron Hill Furnace
(Marker Number: 1014)

County: Carter
Location: Iron Hill, KY 7

Description: Later Charlotte, built in 1873 by Iron Hills Furnace and Mining Co. It has an iron shell stack 49 ft. high, with a maximum diameter inside of 121/2 ft. Largest blast furnace intended to use charcoal fuel in the Hanging Rock Iron Region, it produced only 962 tons of iron for first owners. Ceased operating before 1884. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.

(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Mount Savage Furnace
(Marker Number: 914)

County: Carter
Location: E. of Grayson, Jct. US 60 & KY 1

Description: Six miles south, site of famous iron furnace, erected, 1848, by R. M. Biggs and others. Operated 37 years, averaging 15 tons pig iron daily which was hauled by ox teams to Ohio River for shipment. Iron produced here was used for rails, plows, cannon, machines. Industry declined as limestone, charcoal, and ore supplies ran out. Last blast here occurred in 1885.

Pactolus Furnace
(Marker Number: 1148)

County: Carter
Location: Pactolus, KY 1

Description: Built in 1824 by Joseph McMurtry and David L. Ward, on the site of an earlier bloomery forge. Its stone stack used charcoal fuel, and its air blast machinery was powered from a dam, 51/2 ft. high, in Little Sandy River. Capacity was about three tons of iron daily, mainly shipped via Ohio River. Last blast before 1835. See over. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.

(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Saltpeter Cave
(Marker Number: 209)

County: Carter
Location: Carter Caves State Park, KY 182

Description: Saltpeter mined here from which gunpowder was made that was used by Kentucky riflemen during the War of 1812. There are remains of those works in cave. Reputed rendezvous for counterfeiters in early years. Artifacts and Indian graves found in cavern.

(Subjects: War of 1812)

Star Furnace
(Marker Number: 1018)

County: Carter
Location: 2 mi. W. of Boyd Co. line, US 60

Description: Built in 1848 by A. McCullough and Lampton Brothers. Its stone stack was 36 feet high, 111/2 feet across inside at widest point, and burned "stone coal" rather than charcoal. It was served by its own railroad spur. In 1866 it produced 2600 tons of iron, 1958 tons in 1871. The last blast was in 1874. See other side. Marker presented by Armco Steel Corp.

(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)