Our History

Cross Creeks and the surrounding area in Stewart County, Tennessee is rich in history. Archaeological investigations indicate that people inhabited the area 8,000 years ago during the Paleo-Indian/Early Archaic period. These Native Americans who were hunters and gatherers lived along the Cumberland River which they called the “Warioto.” 

During the 1850’s, much of the nation's iron industry was centered in Tennessee and up until 1862; two charcoal iron furnaces were operating on lands that are now within the Refuge. These were the Bellwood and the Rolling Mill Furnaces. Important resources needed in the iron smelting process included limestone that was used as a cleaning agent while the local forest provided timber that was converted into charcoal for melting ore. These resources along with the numerous iron ore deposits made Stewart County one of the top producers of “pig iron” in the state. The only reminder of this industry is a portion of the massive furnace stack at Bellwood. Both it and the Rolling Mill Furnace were destroyed by Union Naval gun boats moving up the Cumberland River following the fall of Fort Donelson in 1862. The Bellwood Furnace is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Another interesting historical structure on the refuge is the South Cross Creek Bridge. Constructed in 1901 the “Pratt Truss” Bridge is one of the older metal truss bridges remaining not only in the state of Tennessee but in the U.S. This bridge was part of the original highway leading from Dover to Cumberland City.