Although these images are circa 1933,
they represent how early Americans produced charcoal for iron furnaces.
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Stacking wood in the flat, cleared area known as the hearth to make charcoal. Courtesy of the United States Library of Congress.
Covering the stack with soil.
The Collier needs to stack the wood both so that it can withstand his weight while covering
and while monitoring the burn over the next two weeks. Walking on the pile can be dangerous if the
Collier falls into the pile while it continues to smolder or burn.
Courtesy of the United States Library of Congress.
A smoldering hearth.
Courtesy of the United States Library of Congress.
The final product, charcoal.
Courtesy of the United States Library of Congress.
