Note: Pictures from negatives might be flipped side to side.
Oldest known picture of Beckley Furnace taken circa 1875. All of the buldings around the furnace are of wood. At this time the furnace was only 32 feet high. Railroad box cars are visible in the upper right corner. Barely discernable on the left center edge a girl stands on the bridge, probably watching the photographer.(Image flipped)Beckley Furnace in 1896. Some wooden buildings have been replaced with brick structures having metal roofing. The charging bridge used to load raw material into the top of the furnace is clearly visible. The charcoal sheds and the bridge were still wood at this time. Shortly after this picture was taken the charging bridge and adjacent charcoal sheds (far left) were consumed by fire. The furnace, while unharmed, was out of. service for several years afterward. Note the horse standing in the open doorway with the glow of the hearth as a background.(Image flipped)A view from the other lide of the furnace shown a new fire resistant charging bridge with metal roofing. Also visible in this view is the 70 foot high smokestack and just behind it the hot blast stove used to heat the incoming air. The large pipe at the extreme left carries the cold blast air from the blast pump at the waterfall to the stove. The two small buildings with rounded roofs were steam boilers added toward the end of operation that permitted the use of steam to power the blast pump.
