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Junior Furnace, Ohio facts for kids

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Junior Furnace is a small, unincorporated community located in Scioto County, Ohio, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a group of homes and businesses that doesn't have its own local government like a city or a village.

Junior Furnace: A Small Ohio Community

This quiet community gets its name from an old industrial building. It was once home to a special type of factory called a blast furnace. This furnace played an important role in the area's history.

The History of Junior Furnace

The original Junior Furnace was a large structure built in 1828. It was designed to make iron, which was a very important material back then. Iron was used for many things, from tools to parts for machines.

What Was a Blast Furnace?

A blast furnace is like a giant oven. It uses very high heat to melt iron ore, which is a rock that contains iron. Workers would put iron ore, coke (a type of fuel), and limestone into the top of the furnace. Hot air, or "blast," was blown in from the bottom. This process melted the iron, separating it from other materials. The melted iron would then flow out from the bottom.

Why "Junior"?

The name "Junior Furnace" might sound a bit odd. It was called "Junior" because it was built two years after another nearby furnace. That older furnace was known as Franklin Furnace. So, Junior Furnace was simply the "younger" one of the two.

Famous Faces from Junior Furnace

Even small communities can be the birthplace of important people. Junior Furnace is known for one such person.

Thomas H. Carter: From Ohio to the Senate

Thomas H. Carter was born in Junior Furnace in 1854. He grew up to become a very important figure in American politics. He served as a United States Senator for the state of Montana. A U.S. Senator is a person elected to represent their state in the national government in Washington, D.C. They help make laws for the entire country.

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