This article was originally written by Bobby Rose in the early 1970's.
Submitted by Norwood Thorpe
Fitchburg furnace, a monument to Estill County's great iron producing era stands on a mountainside in the northeastern portion of Estill County. It is approximately 16 miles from Irvine and can be reached by taking highway #52 from Irvine to Ravenna, continuing on #62 from Ravenna up and down a large mountain on the way toward Beattyville. At the foot of the mountain, 2 rural highways come together immediately off highway #52. One highway #213 leads to Cob Hill, the other highway #975 makes a sharp turn to the left leading to Fitchburg. The Aldersgate Youth Camp owned and operated by the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Church is located near the furnace. Fitchburg furnace was completed in 1858. Built at the peak of the iron industry in Estill County, it was the last furnace to be built in the county.
A town was chartered called Fitchburg after the two brothers, Frank Fitch, the general superintendent and Fred Fitch, the secretary and treasurer of the furnace operation. It was owned by the Red River Iron Manufacturing Company with a cash capital of $1,000,000.
For several years, Fitchburg was a thriving little city with mills, shops, school and church, post office and with roads leading to other communities. More than 100 families lived at Fitchburg and employment was furnished to many men. One of the men who came to Estill County to work at Fitchburg was David Bergman of Louisville. He was employed as head bookkeeper for the business operation of the Furnace and met and married Lydia Moore, daughter of Harry and Mary Moore of Millers Creek, Estill County, September 27, 1870. They lived at Fitchburg for many years and their children were born there. David was born January 9, 1847, and died February 11, 1912. Lydia was born September 21, 1848, and died November 12, 1910. They were the parents of two children, Robert N. Bergman, who owned and operated a large hardware store on Main Street, Irvine, for many years. Mabel Bergman, their daughter, married Harry Milward of Lexington and they reside there. Robert Bergman married Miss Minnie West of Frankfort, and they lived in their home on Main Street, Irvine, until their deaths several years ago. Robert and Minnie Bergman had two children, Weston and Robert Bergman who have continued to live in Irvine to the present time.
Furnace is now a ghost town with only the furnace itself left to tell the story of what has gone on before. There are no stores, nor churches, but several families have continued to reside in the vicinity. Some of these families are the Dellie Shuler, Shirley Rogers, and Bauford Powell families. The men of the families who have continued to live at Fitchburg commute daily to Winchester, Richmond and Lexington for employment.
The Fitchburg post office was established September 9, 1870, with Thomas Edgar Parke as postmaster. Other postmasters were: C.R. Fitch, Maggie C. Graves, C. Tipton, J.M. Stewart, B.F. Chatman, James Arthur, and Elma D. Smyth. The post office was discontinued June 30, 1955, with people to get mail at Ravenna.
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