The Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Site
Click on thumbnail picture to see full view
Pinion wood was first hauled by wagons to a platform level with the windows at the back of the 30' tall beehive shaped ovens. Then 35 cords of wood was packed in layers inside each of the ovens. Windows and lower openings were tightly closed with iron doors before the fire was started. Double iron doors were on the large arched bottom openings.
The temperature of the fire was controlled by careful monitoring and opening and closing the two rows of small vent holes located all around the base of the ovens using snugly fitting rocks. When the correct amount of charring of the wood had been reached after several days had passed, the fire was smothered out by closing all of the openings so no oxygen could continue to fuel the fire. The resulting longer burning charcoal was then used to produce the energy to run the Martin White Smelters and Mills in nearby Ward, Nevada.Photo courtesy of Robert "Bob" Estes July 1998
This close-up view of one of the large double doors shows the skillful workmanship which went into the building of these particular charcoal ovens.
If you look closely, you can see that no mortar was used in the construction of these ovens. The tops of the ovens were open to allow the smoke and gases to escape.
Note the vents or air holes in the base of the oven in the background. Rocks were used to plug up the holes during the firing process.
Photo courtesy of Robert "Bob" Estes
July 1998
White Pine Historical and Archaeological Society
P.O. Box 1117
Ely, NV 89301
Pages designed by
webpanda.com