The Henry Clay Iron Furnace stood at the center of a small community of hundreds of people whose livelihoods depended on ironmaking. Built near trees, iron ore, limestone, and water, it operated around the clock, producing about 4 tons of iron each day during its short lifespan from about 1834 to 1847. Heat radiated from the furnace, charcoal smoke lingered through the community, its glow could be seen at night, and few large trees remained because they were cut to fuel it. Men, women, and even older children worked to keep both the furnace and the community alive. Iron production in this region boomed in the early 1800s, but by 1849 it was declining rapidly because transportation by river was difficult and costly and competition from other iron-producing regions in the U.S. had increased. About 100 homes, a school, store, church, and other buildings once stood here, but over time the forest reclaimed the place, leaving only the old stone furnace.