Cooper FurnaceMar 25, 2008
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This is it!
Most of the park. A day use area.
We're just on the left
| It wasn’t long after we got here that I realized I might very well be the second Sines’ to visit Cooper Furnace. Although, it would have been under completely different circumstances when great uncle, Peter Robert Sines, may have been here in 1864. Sergeant Sines, my uncle Peter, was a member of the 15th Ohio Infantry, attached to General Sherman during his famous ‘March to the Sea’ during the Civil War. At that time it was a thriving town called Etowah. Its major industry was the iron furnace where ‘pig iron’ was manufactured. There was a foundry, rolling mill, spike mill, and a ‘fine’ flour mill. The flour mill was once used by the Queen of England. Products from Etowah included pig iron, nails, spikes, rails, tools, and of course cannons. During the Civil War the iron industry was operated by the Confederacy and was a prime military target. Enter Sherman and his troops. At some point in passing the area Sherman dispatched units of his Army to destroy Etowah and its industry. That was accomplished and is why I say, I may be the second Sines’ to visit the area. I haven’t done enough research to be sure but, it makes a good story, and who knows? After the Civil War Etowah never really recovered. Floods, the building of the dam, and time have taken their toll. All that is left is the furnace. Now in place of Etowah there is Cooper Furnace day use area, and there are we! |
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