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Built by the Lake
Superior Iron Mining Company, this furnace was fueled by peat which
was mined at the east end of Teal Lake. This concept came from
England. The peat bed was described as "inexhaustible".
Peat was cut, ground, mixed, and dried for 2-3 weeks. 25 tons
of peat per day were burned. Peat was also sold for domestic
use in homes. The Excelsior Furnace was built in 1872 and
designed to use peat for fuel. The furnace was located on
South Pine Street, on the side of the hill to the north
(approximately 700 S. Pine St.). It was noted that South Pine
Street is two parallel roads, with the railroad formally running
between them. C&NW put in two different rails, one to bring in
the ore and the other to carry out ingots to steel mills. The
furance continued to operate off and on by different owners and
lease operators. By 1880 the Furnace was known as the "old
peat" furnace and was now running on coal and charcoal. It
appears to have last operated in the summer of 1900. In 1905
it was torn down. [EHMT]
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