Mt. Torry Furnace
Why it's listed
Mt. Torry Furnace is a large pyramid of hand-laid stone, built without mortar in 1804, in the George Washington National Forest about 10 miles southwest of Waynesboro, Virginia. Records from 1853 give its size as 35 feet high above the firebox with an interior diameter of 11 feet. It began as a cold-blast, charcoal-burning furnace and was converted to hot blast in 1853. Like others of its type, it was built beside a hillside so materials could be wheeled across a bridge to the top of the stack, with a water wheel driving the air bellows. It operated until 1854, then restarted after about seven years to supply pig iron to the Tredegar Iron Co. of Richmond, which bought it in 1863. Union Brigadier General Duffie had it burned on June 10, 1864. Replacement machinery was ready in early 1865 but installed only after the Civil War. The furnace finally went out of blast in 1892. Today it is in good condition and signed for visitors.
Significance in brief: It is presented as one of many iron furnaces built in the 1800s and as an example of the early industrial movement in the country. It supplied pig iron to the Tredegar Iron Co. in Richmond, which bought it in 1863. Union forces under Brigadier General Duffie put it out of blast in 1864.
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 74002231, listed February 25, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Waynesboro on VA 664 in the George Washington National Forest, Sherando |
|---|---|
| County | Augusta County |
| Listed | February 25, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002231 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition; some preventative maintenance was done earlier and the site is now signed for visitors. The furnace went out of blast in 1892 and was abandoned soon after. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.94549, -78.96445 (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 74002231.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712931
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.