Shelby Iron Works Complex

Shelby Iron Works Complex

Shelby County; Civil War; Iron Industry; Iron; Ware, Horace; blast furnace; Historic Shelby Association; industialization

Shelby Iron Works began when Horace Ware purchased land south of Columbiana, Alabama from Green B and Sarah Seale on December 29, 1842.  Ware acquired other properties in the area with available timberland and hematite ore.  The Shelby Iron Works Company was started with the building of a cold blast iron furnace.  The lone furnace stack was built out of brick and stone and only stood 30 feet high. During The American War between the States the iron works was useful in outfitting the CSS Tennessee, CSS Huntsville and the CSS Tuscaloosa.  A detachment of Union General Emory Upton's division of Wilson's Raiders attempted to destroy the ironworks on March 31, 1865.  The ironworks was rebuilt and continued to operate until 1923 when production stopped.  The majority of the Ironworks was dismantled for scrap in 1929.  Shelby Ironworks Website

Liz Clayton, Shelby County Historical Society

Alabama Cultural Resources Survey

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