Ardis Furnace

1565 N. Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain, Michigan, Behind the Comfort Inn

Ruins of a prototype low-grade ore processing plant

Photos

Ardis Furnace Ruins

The rotating steel tube was tapered and mounted on an angle. This pier seems to have held the higher end of the tube.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2013

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Map

Coordinates:
+45.83756, -88.05258
45°50'15" N, 88°03'09" W

Quadrangle map:
Iron Mountain

Description

In 1908, John T. Jones invented a process to refine low-grade iron ore into a viable product. He built a long, steel tube, lined with fire brick, that rotated while heated. Although this particular prototype ran into severe difficulties and was dismantled, lessons learned helped refine the process as time went on. All that remains are these silent reminders of Jones' efforts.

National Register information

Status: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1972
Reference number: 72000608
Areas of significance: Industry; Invention
Level of significance: State
Evaluation criteria: B - Person
Property type: Site
Historic function: Extractive facility
Period of significance: 1900-1924
Significant year: 1908

Update Log

August 9, 2013: Updated by J.R. Manning: Corrected GPS Coordinates and added photos

Sources

Wikipedia
J.R. Manning - Lugnuts969 [at] gmail [dot] com
National Register database - Reference number 72000608 (Search for documents)