Tennessee Coal, Iron and RR Company (TCI)
Woodward's 1940 account continues that the DeBardeleben Coal and Iron Company was taken over by TCI on June 1, 1892.
"Under the old [TCI] these furnaces had been rebuilt but not enlarged, the No. 1 in 1902 and the No. 2 in 1899. On October 26, 1907, (the year in which they were acquired by the United States Steel Corporation) the furnaces were blown out and remained idle until February 1913 when they were relighted. Oxmoor continued to operate throughout the World War. After the War, however, it was decided that due to the cost of fuel transportation and the location of the plant, only one stack should operate, the other being used as an alternate."
"The last iron to be made at Oxmoor was in May 1927. During 1928 both stacks were dismantled. Thus ended the history of Jefferson County's first blast furnace -- a colorful history of 64 years."
The following image is from Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, 1900, p. 75, previously noted in this article. Based on Woodward's account above, this image might have been made in 1899-1900 at the time of publication of this book about TCI's assets, since there appears to be work being done to the furnace stoves on the right, which would be No. 2. No. 1's improvements, being made in 1902 would have come later. In any event, the image was made after 1886, since the furnaces are the same size.
