KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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Battle of Irvine
(Marker Number: 1507)

County: Estill
Location: Irvine, Courthouse lawn, KY 52 & 89

Description: Only Civil War battle in this area. Col. John S. Scott, CSA, and troops arrived here July 30, 1863, with plan to capture 14th Ky. Cavalry. Held Irvine only a few hours. Col. W. P. Sanders, USA, and his force pursued Scott, capturing some of rear guard. Col. Scott's troops crossed river at Irvine but fought with Col. Sanders' men from other side. Scott soon departed.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Cottage Furnace
(Marker Number: 1056)

County: Estill
Location: 5 mi. NE of Ravenna, Jct. KY 52 & 213

Description: Built, 1856, operated until 1873, when 1950 tons of iron were made. Six miles north. A stone stack, originally 38 ft. high, maximum inner diameter 101/2 ft. Fuel was charcoal. Steam-driven air blast. Iron was made into bars, nails and other products at Clay City forge and rolling mill, or cast into utensils at furnace for sale here and in Bluegrass. See over.

(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)

County Named, 1808
(Marker Number: 1219)

County: Estill
Location: Irvine, Courthouse lawn, KY 52, 89

Description: For Captain James Estill, gallant soldier and frontiersman. Fought one of bloodiest Indian battles, Estill's Defeat, on March 22, 1782, in what is now Montgomery County. He and 7 of his 25 pioneers were killed in violent combat with a band of marauding Wyandots. The 50th county, formed out of parts of Clark and Madison. Parts of 5 counties were taken from Estill.

(Subjects: Wyandot Indians)

Estill Seminary
(Marker Number: 1922)

County: Estill
Location: Estill Co. Middle School, Main St., Irvine

Description: This site approved for Jefferson Seminary by act of Ky. General Assembly in February 1798. Name was changed to Estill Seminary, February 3, 1816. Trustees given authority to sell half of unclaimed lands, granted for educational purposes, to erect buildings and purchase library. Seminary was built in 1830 and used until 1897. Presented by Estill County Schools.

(Reverse) Collegiate Institute - On site of Seminary, the Estill Collegiate Institute established in 1906 through cooperation of Presby. Synod of Ky. and Estill Seminary trustees: B.F. Jacobs, W.W. Park, L.A. West, Thomas Williams, and Hugh Riddell. Present structure, 1948, was Estill Co. High School; it became middle school, 1971. Presented by Estill County Schools to commemorate Ky. Bicentennial.

(Subjects: Presbyterian Church)

Estill Springs
(Marker Number: 555)

County: Estill
Location: 1/2 mi. N. of Irvine, KY 89

Description: Mineral springs visited by Boone, Boyle, McAfee and other pioneers. Early camp of Shawnee Indians. First school of early settlers located here. Operated as resort, 1814 until hotel burned 1924. In 1861, owner Col. Sidney M. Barnes organized 8th Ky. Inf. Vol., USA. Used as recruiting station and camp. Morgan's men held several reunions here, including the last.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel | Indians | Morgan's Raiders | Shawnee Indians | Springs)

Estill Steam Furnace
(Marker Number: 1055)

County: Estill
Location: 5 mi. NE of Ravenna, Jct. KY 52 & 213

Description: Six miles north. A stone stack, built, 1830, by Thomas Deye Owings, a leader in the once thriving Red River iron industry. Originally 34 ft. high, 10 ft. across inside with a steam-powered air blast, burning charcoal. Produced 1967 tons of iron in 1872. Last blast in 1874. Pig iron was made into finished products at Clay City forge and rolling mill. See over.

(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)

Irvine
(Marker Number: 199)

County: Estill
Location: Irvine, Courthouse lawn, KY 52, 89

Description: Named, 1812, for Col. Wm. Irvine. Member from Madison Co. of 1787 and 1788 conventions that sought separation from Va. and statehood for Ky.; member of Constitutional Convention, 1799. "He had strong hold on affection of people. Few have gone to grave more lamented."

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799))

Lookout Mountain Hero
(Marker Number: 639)

County: Estill
Location: West Irvine, KY 52

Description: In that crucial battle of the Chattanooga campaign, Nov. 25, 1863, Capt. John C. Wilson and 5 others from Estill Co., of 8th Ky. Inf., answered call for volunteers to plant U.S. flag on Lookout Mtn. Reaching summit in sight of both armies, they planted their colors, made by Estill County women. Regiment followed, taking mountain. His grave in Station Camp Cemetery, 4 miles S.W.

Red River Iron Works
(Marker Number: 1054)

County: Estill
Location: 8 mi. NE of Ravenna, KY 52

Description: Blackstone and Chandler Furnaces, a single stone structure 60 ft. high, 40 x 60 ft. Twin stacks 50 ft. high, 121/2 ft. across inside. Three miles north. Built in 1869 by Sam Worthley, designed by Fred Fitch, with steam-powered air blast, burning charcoal. Operated until 1874, producing 16,072 tons of iron. Fitchburg, chartered in 1871, no longer exists. See over.

(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)

Station Camp
(Marker Number: 810)

County: Estill
Location: West Irvine, KY 52

Description: Indian Trading Post and camping ground. Called "Ah-wah-nee," a grassy place, by the Shawnees who hunted here and obtained their lead supply in this vicinity. In 1769, Daniel Boone, Squire Boone, and Joseph Proctor were first of many pioneers to use camp, which is located on an old buffalo trace known as War Road, then a direct route from Boonesborough to the East.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel | Boone, Squire | Indians | Roads | Shawnee Indians)