Illinois Iron Furnace
Why it's listed
Near Rosiclare in Hardin County, Illinois, an iron furnace marks the site of the state's only truly native iron industry. Built between 1837 and 1839 by Chalon Guard and Leonard White, it has a central brick tower about 40 feet high inside a tapering stone casing, with arched recesses where molten metal ran into molds to make pig iron. Local limonite ore and charcoal from nearby forests fed the furnace, which at full operation could produce nine tons of iron a day. It was enlarged in 1856, closed in 1861, and ran again from 1874 until 1883, when ore from the Lake Superior region undercut it. A village with a post office grew up around it. After decades of decay and damage in the 1930s, the Golconda Job Corps Center dismantled and rebuilt it in 1967 on its original location, and added access roads and a picnic area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the furnace is the only remaining furnace of Illinois's first and last completely native iron industry. It produced high-quality pig iron from local ore and charcoal from local forests. A village grew up around it, and it operated until 1883, when cheaper Lake Superior ore made it unprofitable.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000704, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Shawnee National Forest, Rosiclare |
|---|---|
| County | Hardin County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000704 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific dates 1837-39 (construction) |
| Architect / builder | Original owners Chalon Guard and Leonard White; 1967 reconstruction by the Golconda Job Corps Center, U.S. Forest Service |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Military, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent. It was dismantled and reconstructed on the original location in 1967. Interpretive signs and a picnic site are provided nearby. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.49949, -88.32793 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000704.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16846588
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.