For one day at least, the iron furnaces that were a key part in building this region leapt out of the past and into the hearts of hundreds of locals.

They were all visitors to the Vesuvius Iron Furnace Festival Saturday in conjunction with Ironmaster Days in downtown Ironton.

Organizer Virginia Bryant said that she was impressed with the turnout, estimated at around 500, despite a smattering of rain.

“I didn’t think that we would have that many, given the weather,” Bryant said. “There were people there at 8:30 a.m. and there was a steady stream all day. I left about 5 p.m., and there were still people there.

Bryant admitted that one of her favorite parts of the festival at Lake Vesuvius’ furnace recreation area was a visit from the Huntington Harmonica Club, which she described as “really good.”

“But all of our groups were good,” she was quick to add. “Everybody that was in the amphitheater was very well-received.”

What was perhaps the biggest surprise was not even the turnout, but what they enjoyed. For example, organizers had planned to take around 30 people up to the Vesuvius Cemetery for a tour lead by DAV commander Steven Saunders.

Bryant said that the driver of the tour lost count after he had taken his 200th visitor up to the cemetery.

That’s welcome news for Bryant, who said that the whole goal of the event was to raise awareness of the furnaces, which she said she was worried about slipping into obscurity. One group that works to preserve the Mount Olive furnace said that they had reached many people that they would have never been able to otherwise.

Bryant said that the event organizers had already scheduled a meeting for next month to discuss this year’s event, and decide what can be done to make 2007 bigger and better.

“The general feeling I got from committee members at the fair is that we would do it again,” Bryant said.