Description: This image is a reproduction of a photograph depicting the house occupied by the manager of Buckhorn Furnace in Lawrence County, Ohio. The original photograph was taken between 1865 and 1877. Wilbur Stout, former chemist at the Columbus Iron and Steel Company and Ohio's state geologist, researched and collected photographs of blast furnaces in Ohio. He received this photograph from Fred G. Leete of Ironton, Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01196
Subjects: Iron industry; Hanging Rock Iron Region (Ohio)--History; Charcoal industry--United States
Places: Lawrence County (Ohio)
 

Description: Early iron foundry, from "Pathways of Progress, A Short History of Ohio," by David Bowman. While iron production originated in the northeastern corner of Ohio, during the first half of the nineteenth century southern Ohioans dominated the industry. The most productive area was centered near Hanging Rock, along the Ohio River. By 1860, southern Ohioans had established sixty-nine iron furnaces, producing more than 100,000 tons of iron annually, across Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto, and Vinton Counties. The manufacturers sent much of the iron up and down the Ohio River to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, allowing southern Ohioans to prosper. It was in these two cities where most of the iron produced in southern Ohio was fashioned into finished products such as household utensils and tools. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04129
Subjects: Iron and steel workers--Ohio; Ohio Economy--Economy--Labor; Iron industry
Places: Ohio
 

Description: The pictured reproduction of a map illustrates charcoal furnaces once located in the Hanging Rock Iron Region of southeastern Ohio and the bordering region of Kentucky. While iron production originated in the northeastern corner of Ohio during the first half of the nineteenth century, southern Ohioans soon dominated the industry. The most productive area was centered near Hanging Rock, along the Ohio River. By 1860, southern Ohioans had established sixty-nine iron furnaces, producing more than 100,000 tons of iron annually, across Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto, and Vinton Counties. The manufacturers sent much of the iron up and down the Ohio River to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, allowing southern Ohioans to prosper. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01193
Subjects: Iron industry; Maps--Ohio; Hanging Rock Iron Region (Ohio)--History; Charcoal industry--United States
Places: Ross County (Ohio); Pike County (Ohio); Scioto County (Ohio); Hocking County (Ohio); Vinton County (Ohio); Jackson County (Ohio); Lawrence County (Ohio); Athens County (Ohio); Meigs County (Ohio); Gallia County (Ohio);
 

Description: These photographs of the Vesuvius Iron Furnace near Ironton, Ohio were taken around 1965. Named after the Mt. Vesuvius volcano in Italy, the furnace was built in 1833 to supply iron to steel manufacturers in northern Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the nation. It produced 3,000 tons of pig iron, made from iron ore and limestone, per year. The supply of iron ore diminished by the end of the nineteenth century and the furnace was abandoned. The furnace was one 46 charcoal iron furnaces located in the Hanging Rock Iron Region of southern Ohio. Vesuvius Iron Furnace is located north of Ironton, Ohio in the Wayne National Forest. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The slides measure 2.75" x 2.75" (6.99 x 6.99 cm). View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3025_3643547_001
Subjects: Geography and Natural Resources; Furnaces; Iron industry; National Register of Historic Places
Places: Ironton (Ohio); Lawrence County (Ohio)
 

Description: This picture postcard gives an aerial view of the manufacturing district of Toledo, Ohio. The Maumee River and two bridges are in the background. The Toledo Foundry and Machine Co. is visible in the center of the image. Smoke from industrial chimneys drifts toward the river. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06164
Subjects: Aerial views; Toledo (Ohio); Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Iron industry
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)
 

Description: View of the interior of the machine shop in the Ripley Foundry in Ripley, Ohio, founded by John Parker (1827-1900). Parker resided in Virginia, where he was born, until the age of 8, when he was sent to Alabama after being purchased by a physician. Unlike most slaves, John Parker was literate despite the fact that it was illegal for slaves to be taught to read. The reasons for the strict illegality of teaching slaves was that their white owners feared that the more they knew, the more likely they would be to escape and flee to the safety of the north. The belief that these African Americans kept in servitude would be unable to learn was pervasive. Parker, of course, proved this to be entirely wrong as he would not only become literate but would go on to become a successful business owner. It was when he was still a slave that he first learned a trade that would become his career: iron working. Parker saved his earnings from the foundry, and eventually he was able to pull himself out of slavery. Parker would start a foundry of his own after he decided to leave the South and had already run his own shop for a period of a few years before moving to Ripley where the foundry would be built. Being a former slave himself and understanding their plight, Parker often brought slaves northwards so that they would be able to live freely. Parker spent the remainder of his life as a business owner until his death in 1900. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06717
Subjects: Iron and steel workers--Ohio; Iron industry; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Ohio Economy; Former slaves
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: The interior of Ripley Foundry in Ripley, Ohio, founded by a former slave, John Parker (1827-1900). Parker resided in Virginia, where he was born, until the age of 8, when he was sent to Alabama after being purchased by a physician. Unlike most slaves, John Parker was literate despite the fact that it was illegal for slaves to be taught to read. The reasons for the strict illegality of teaching slaves was that their white owners feared that the more they knew, the more likely they would be to escape and flee to the safety of the north. The belief that these African Americans kept in servitude would be unable to learn was pervasive. Parker, of course, proved this to be entirely wrong as he would not only become literate but would go on to become a successful business owner. It was when he was still a slave that he first learned a trade that would become his career: iron working. Parker saved his earnings from the foundry, and eventually he was able to pull himself out of slavery. Parker would start a foundry of his own after he decided to leave the South and had already run his own shop for a period of a few years before moving to Ripley where the foundry would be built. Being a former slave himself and understanding their plight, Parker often brought slaves northwards so that they would be able to live freely. Parker spent the remainder of his life as a business owner until his death in 1900. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06709
Subjects: Iron and steel workers--Ohio; Iron industry; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Ohio Economy; Former slaves
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the exterior of Ripley Foundry in Ripley, Ohio, founded by a former slave, John Parker (1827-1900). Parker resided in Virginia, where he was born, until the age of 8, when he was sent to Alabama after being purchased by a physician. Unlike most slaves, John Parker was literate despite the fact that it was illegal for slaves to be taught to read. The reasons for the strict illegality of teaching slaves was that their white owners feared that the more they knew, the more likely they would be to escape and flee to the safety of the north. The belief that these African Americans kept in servitude would be unable to learn was pervasive. Parker, of course, proved this to be entirely wrong as he would not only become literate but would go on to become a successful business owner. It was when he was still a slave that he first learned a trade that would become his career: iron working. Parker saved his earnings from the foundry, and eventually he was able to pull himself out of slavery. Parker would start a foundry of his own after he decided to leave the South and had already run his own shop for a period of a few years before moving to Ripley where the foundry would be built. Being a former slave himself and understanding their plight, Parker often brought slaves northwards so that they would be able to live freely. Parker spent the remainder of his life as a business owner until his death in 1900. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06702
Subjects: Iron industry; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Ohio Economy; Former slaves
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "The Globe Iron Co, the largest manufacturers of Hi-Scilicon Iron in the U.S. They employ 200." This is an external view of the The Globe Iron Company buildings in Jackson, Ohio. Globe Furnace was founded in 1872, near the present day intersection of Main and South Streets, in Jackson, Ohio by Captain Lewis Davis. In 1873 the company merged with the local Fulton Furnace Company and renamed as Globe Iron Company. A chance discovery was made around 1887 of silvery pig iron, an alloy of iron, manganese and silicon. It was found that this alloy was useful in many different applications and became so successful that they paid all their debts and eventually began making improvements to the facilities, both in 1901 and 1912. A new blast furnace was erected in 1929, but with the onset of the Depression, the company experienced a downturn in sales which lasted until World War II, when the demand for pig iron greatly increased. In 1956, Globe merged with Interlake Iron Corporation. On September 4, 1960 a large explosion shook the iron plant with damage so widespread that the blast furnace never reopened. By the late 1960s, the plant had been leveled and the Jackson Square Shopping Center built on the land. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F11_007_1
Subjects: Iron industry and trade--Ohio; Jackson County (Ohio)--History; Industries--Ohio; Pig-iron; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.)
Places: Jackson (Ohio); Jackson County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photographic reproduction of a an illustration showing the fueling of a conical blast furnace. Iron and steel production in Ohio go back to its admission to the Union in 1802. The first blast furnace for iron was established in northeastern Ohio near Youngstown. Even though the first furnace was in northeaster Ohio, southern Ohio dominate the first half of the 19th century's iron production, especially at Hanging Rock by the Ohio River. However, from the mid 1800s onward, northeastern Ohio emerged as the primary region for iron production in Ohio by replacing their charcoal furnaces with coal furnaces. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01706
Subjects: Blast furnaces--Ohio; Iron industry; Ohio Economy
Places: Ohio
 

Description: The Mather Mansion in Cleveland, Ohio. Now named University Hall, it is on the campus of Cleveland State University. The mansion, with 45 rooms, was completed in 1910 and belonged to the Samuel Mather family. He was an iron ore shipping magnate. It is on the Euclid Avenue in the Millionaire's Row. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07259
Subjects: Mansions; Euclid Avenue (Cleveland, Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio); Iron industry
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the Columbus Anvil & Forging Company. A handwritten note identifies the address as 117 W. Franklin Street in Columbus, Ohio, but historic advertisements identify the factory as being located on West Frankfort Street, in what is now the brewery district of Columbus. The Columbus Anvil & Forging Co. was founded by Tom Long, a former employee of the Columbus Forge and Iron Company, and operated from about 1900 until the mid-1950s. The company was the third oldest manufacturer of wrought anvils in the United States, and they were best known for their Arm and Hammer brand anvils. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B03F04_02
Subjects: Metal-workers--United States; Blacksmithing; Manufacturing industries--Ohio; Iron industry;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)