Fayette Historic State Park, Michigan History Center, Fayette, Michigan June 10, 2019
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There was no iron ore near Fayette. It had to be brought from the mines on the Menominee and Marquette Iron Ranges to the port at Escanaba and then loaded onto boats and barges for transport to Fayette. Old pilings from the wharves are seen along the shoreline.
This historic photo shows the wharves in the Industrial Area where ore and other supplies could be unloaded and finished pig iron shipped down the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan afforded the advantage of a longer shipping season than Lake Superior.
Limestone was quarried from the nearby cliffs for use as flux in the furnaces.Who is getting a close-up view of the geology?
A Lime Kiln has been restored on-site.
More than 20 Charcoal Kilns were once located on-site to convert local timber into fuel for the furnaces.
Where can you get an inside view of a Charcoal Kiln and stay dry for a moment?
With the three key ingredients on-hand, iron ore, charcoal, and limestone, now they were ready to make some iron.
Troy Henderson describes the development and operation of the two Furnaces at Fayette.
(Left) The iron furnace stacks and arches have been well stabilized.
(Above) Inside, one can see that some of the refractory brick lining has collapsed.The fused remains of the last blast may still sit inside.
Each of the two Furnaces had its own Casting House.Inside one, the MHAers learn about the final stage of iron production at Fayette.
Molds formed in the sand floor resembled a sow and suckling pigs.Molten iron was tapped from the furnace into these molds.Hence the name “pig” iron.
The final products were cast iron pigs about two feet long.Today, the footprints of long-ago iron workers have been replaced by those of tourists.
The waste slag from the Furnaces is now being tumbled by the waves of Lake Michigan along Slag Beach.
Photos Courtesy Dawn and Johnny Johnsson, Pat and Mike Kaas.
