As one of the earliest known efforts to exploit the mineral resources of the area, this site represents a crucial stage in the early development of the Birmingham Industrial District. It is also significant for its association with Billy Gould, a pioneering prospector and miner influential in the early development of the coal industry -- and by extension the iron industry -- of Alabama. The most intriguing feature of this site may be the remains of the battery of coke ovens. Based on the years of operation of the site, these ovens represent one of the earliest such structures in Alabama and may be among the oldest extant. The ovens probably contributed coke for the Oxmoor experiments, proving that Alabama coal could be used to make pig iron.
Source:HAER