Our History

Stone County Ironworks was begun in an old gas station in 1979 by one blacksmith, who apprenticed and demonstrated the craft at the Ozark Folk Center in 1976.  Early sales were at retail craft shows, but by 1984 wholesale accounts were the focus, with the help of 9 employees.   That year a 5000 square foot building was erected with the assistance of local government agencies who sought to create opportunity in the area.

In 1989 the first Furniture Collection was showcased at an Interior Design trade show, and after rave reviews, was featured in the 1990 catalog.  By then, 33,000 square feet of production and office space and over 100 employees handled 3000 wholesale accounts.  A showroom and outlet store opened on the Square in downtown Mountain View in a beautiful stone building on the National Historic Register.  Also, in the December 1990 issue of Inc. Magazine,  Stone County Ironworks was rated #252 on the annual list of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the nation. 

By 1996, New World Traders, a new division of SCI, began making products in Mexico, and attempts were made to import pottery as well. Additional manufacturing facilities had been started in Calico Rock, AR and retail stores in Little Rock, AR and Springfield, MO. The vision of management had been affected by competition from imported furnishings chains, and additional resources were diverted from local manufacturing to Mexico over the next few years, which resulted in problems with quality, service, and financial viability.

            By 2003, after reorganization and consolidation of resources, the Stone County Ironworks facility at 408 Ironworks Drive was purchased by a Californian, along with the brand name.  By September, local business leader, Paul Balentine, became a partner and brought his production and business expertise to the new company, Metal Creations, Inc.  In 2004 he became sole owner, committed to returning to our roots, with the reputation and standards of Made in America quality and satisfaction.  Our exciting new Pine Collection is the first new product line created under new management, as we rekindle the spark of excitement and pride in workmanship learned here in Stone County.