Shelby Iron Works

The Machine Shop

Machine Shop, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

This is the Shelby Iron Works machine shop which was built during the reconstruction of 1868. It was of brick construction with a slate roof, as were most all iron company industrial buildings.
The three story building behind the machine shop was the boiler house which was a later addition at the works.
The stack, which served both the machine shop and boiler house, stands today at Shelby Iron Works Park.

A Long Ago Sunday at the Blue Hole

baptising, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Ore fields at Shelby were in close proximity to the furnaces. The brown hematite iron ore lay close to the surface. It was not mined in the sense of mine shafts and carbide lanterns, but rather was taken by stripping the ground away. The resulting "strip pits" dotted the area north of Shelby's iron making facilities.
After production at the works came to an end in 1923, the strip pits still performed service to the people of Shelby for many years to come.
Each pit even had its own name and character to local folks (of which I was one). Among others, there was the Wash Hole and the Blue Hole.
People would travel across the rutted dirt road to the Wash Hole to fetch water for use back home on laundry day...better known as wash day.
The pit with easiest access to the community was the Blue Hole. Its gently slopping sides seemed to form the perfect, peaceful setting for baptism. Shelby residents would watch from across the way.
The photo above shows one such baptism from a long ago Sunday afternoon.

Photo credit to Hylott Armstrong, Jr., formerly of Shelby.

Shelby Furnace is Blown In

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.

Unearthing Our History

Rolling Mill excavation 1, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

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.

Shelby Iron Works Rolling Mill, 130 Years Later

Rolling Mill Measured Drawing, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Shelby Iron Works founder Horace Ware began construction of the rolling mill in 1858. It was destined to become a 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. Additional information regarding the investigation of Alabama's first rolling mill and what was discovered about the facility will be posted in the coming days.

This Was Shelby Iron Works

Shelby Iron Works, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

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.

Workers & Child at Shelby Iron

Workers & Child, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Two workmen and child pose beside a piece of equipment at Shelby Iron Works. This photo was made at the side of one of the iron company buildings. From appearances, it may have been outside the machine shop, though we can't say with certainty. Other photos showing a portion of the building in the background will be posted later.