Cherry Valley Coke Ovens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cherry Valley Coke Ovens
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Cherry Valley and Butcher Rds., Leetonia, Ohio |
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| Area | 10.5 acres (4.2 ha) |
| Built | 1866 |
| Built by | Leetonia Iron & Coal Co.; Cherry Valley Iron & Coal Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000404 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1993 |
The Cherry Valley Coke Ovens are a historic site in Leetonia, Ohio, United States. They were built around 1866 by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company. These special ovens, called "beehive" coke ovens, were used to clean coal and turn it into a fuel called coke. Coke burns much hotter than regular coal, making it perfect for melting iron and steel in big furnaces.
This important site, also known as Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Arboretum, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's a special place worth protecting because of its history. An Ohio Historical Marker was also put there in 1999. Outside of Pennsylvania, these ovens are one of the biggest and best-preserved groups of beehive coke ovens in North America.
Contents
A Look Back: The Story of the Ovens
In the early 1860s, an Irish businessman named William Lee found lots of coal, iron ore, and lime under the ground near what is now Leetonia. Lee started buying land in the area. He then created "The Leetonia Coal & Iron Company." This company included a coal mine, coke ovens, and a blast furnace.
This new company quickly became a big part of the iron and coal industry. It helped turn the area into a busy company town. In 1864, only three families lived there. But by 1869, when the town was officially formed, about 1,800 people lived there.
How Coke Was Made
Making coke was the main job of the company. Workers would mine coal from nearby areas. Then, they would load tons of coal onto carts. These carts ran on rails above the coke ovens. Workers would then shovel the coal into the ovens to "cook" it.
This cooking process cleaned the coal. It turned it into a purer product called coke. Coke was then sent to iron mills. There, it was used to melt iron. Coke was preferred because it could reach much higher temperatures than regular coal.
Each coke oven was about 12 feet wide and 6 to 7 feet tall. Each oven could hold two to three tons of coal. At one point, the Leetonia Coal & Iron Company used 100 ovens. They processed 250 tons of coal into coke every day.
Changes and Challenges
In 1873, another company bought out the Leetonia Coal & Iron Company. The new company was named "The Cherry Valley Iron and Coal Company." They made the operations even bigger. Eventually, they had over 200 coke ovens and four blast furnaces. This allowed them to process much more coal than ever before.
However, the company faced money problems during the Great Depression. Because of these financial difficulties, the ovens were closed for good.
From Industry to Park
In 1982, the site was given to the village of Leetonia. The idea was to turn it into a park. In 1986, the village council created a group to make this park a reality.
From Ovens to Park: A New Beginning
The village of Leetonia successfully created the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Park. The area is now a heavily wooded space. It has hiking trails that go in and around the old coke ovens. You can also see other parts of the former Cherry Valley Iron & Coal Company site.
The village of Leetonia took on this project to protect an important part of their history. The park helps people learn about the past. It also provides a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
