Center Furnace was built in 1836 in Lawrence County, Ohio by William Carpenter and others. It had a 16 ton capacity and the stack was 40 feet tall. It is believed the furnace was sold to William D. Kelly in 1862, but so far no records have been found on the sell.
Built by James Rodgers and others in 1832, Etna Furnace had a 16 ton capacity. Etna Furnace stopped producing charcoal in 1887 when possible financial difficulties resulted in closing the furnace.
Hamilton & McCoy built the Hecla Furnace in 1833. With a capacity of 10 tons, the furnace operated until 1897. In 1828, Robert Hamilton of Hamilton & McCoy opened the Pine Grove Furnace. It was a Pine Grove that Hamilton made history. Convinced iron was one of God’s creations for the use of man, Hamilton decided to respect God’s commands and close on the Sabbath Day.
In 1834 Lawrence Furnace, also known as Crane’s Nest Furnace, was built by J. Riggs and Co. The furnace has a 40 foot stack and a capacity of 15 tons. J. Riggs and Co. included Joseph Riggs, Andrew Ellison, Robert Hamilton, James Rodgers, and Dyer Burgess. John Campbell was the superintendent during construction of the furnace and loaned the company $1,500 during the construction of the furnace.
Built by John Campbell and John Peters in 1846, Olive Furnace features a unique arch. This was not the only time Peters and Campbell worked together. In 1848, Joames O. Willard, Peters and Campbell bought land together to build a railroad and a town at Hanging Rock.
Washington Furnace could produce seven to eight tons per day and a capacity of 17 tons. In 1853, the furnace was superintended by John Peters. John Peters was the son of Henry and Rebecca (Wilhelm) Peters. Peters moved to Ohio in 1830’s. He was one of the people who helped layout Ironton and built the Iron Railroad. He also worked in Monroe, Pine Grove, Vernon, Greenup, Honeywell and other furnaces.
James and Findley built Buckhorn furnace in 1833. The furnace had a capacity of 15 tons. In 1899, John Peters, builder of the Washington Furnace, was the manager. Although damaged when the surrounding area was strip mined, the furnace still stands today.
Named for an Italian Volcano, Vesuvius Furnace is probably one of the better known furnaces in the area. Built in 1833, Vesuvius was directed by William Firmstone. During its operation, the furnace employed a hundred workers, produced eight to twelve tons per day and three thousand tons per year. It is a recognized as a historical site located in Vesuvius State Park.
Located in Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio, Pioneer Furnace was built in 1856 by W. Colvin, U. Tracy & Others. Pioneer could produce 12 tons and had a stack of 45 feet. This furnace was one of the first that used stone coal as a fuel for the furnace.
The Ironton Engine Company erected a building in 1903 on Sixth and Ashtabula Street. W. A. Murdock, Frank C. Tomlinson, H. A. Marting, A. H. Mittendorf, Thomas L. Collett, C.V. Pollock, W. P. Lewis, and A. R. Johnson were some of the men responsible for organizing the plant. For forty years, the plant was the finest machine shops in the Tri-State area.
