Oreton, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oreton, Ohio
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Location of Oreton, Ohio
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Vinton |
| Township | Vinton Township |
| Elevation | 692 ft (211 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1062925 |
Oreton is a fascinating place in Ohio. It's known as a ghost town. This means it was once a busy community, but now almost no one lives there. You can find Oreton in Vinton County, along State Route 160. It used to be a small town where people worked in mining. Today, you can still see some old ruins. There are crumbled parts of an iron furnace. You might also spot some concrete foundations. And there's a brick safe from an old company store.
Contents
Oreton's Past: A Mining Town
Oreton was once a lively community. It was built by the New York Coal Company. This company needed homes for its workers. The town was a hub for coal and iron mining.
Life in Oreton: What Was It Like?
Oreton had a post office that served the town for many years. It operated from 1880 to 1950. There was also a church where people gathered. A man named Azariah McManis took care of the church. The town had about 70 houses. Most of these homes were built for the miners and their families. A person named Bert Harder built many of them. Records show that people were born in Oreton as early as 1853.
Mining and Industry: Oreton's Main Work
The area around Oreton was rich in natural resources. There were many mines for coal and iron ore. These resources were very important. An iron furnace also operated in Oreton. This furnace was busy during the last half of the 1800s. It processed the iron ore found nearby. The superintendent of the Eagle's Furnace was Samuel T. Benner. He was a veteran of the American Civil War. He served in Company L of the 12th Ohio Cavalry.
A Town Without a Cemetery
Even though Oreton was a town for over 100 years, it never had its own cemetery. When people passed away, they were buried in nearby towns. These burial sites were several miles away from Oreton.
Oreton's Original Name
Before it was called Oreton, the town had a different name. According to old postal records, it was originally known as Aleshire.
