IR July 13, 1876 Submitted by Sharon M. Kouns FALL 1850 The Ironton Foundry burns and it’s history was given .... The Ironton Foundry was the first iron industry started in this town, and has ever since been one of our reliable and prominent institutions. The structure was put up in the Fall of 1850, John and Hiram Campbell marking out the foundation lines. The brick work was done by A. O. Sheppard; Hammond Howe constucted the suspension roof, and Thos. Winters did the carpentering work. The structure was enclosed by the time cold weather came, and in the Winter of 50-51, the carpenters were fitting up the interior. The first melt was in May, 1851. The foundry then employed 22 molders. Some of these came from Mt. Vernon furnace, where the company had been engaged ina profitable foundry business. The names of those who came in from Mt. Vernon at that time are as follows: Wm. Levering, Jeff. Gustin, John Alexander, Dan McDaniel, Wm. Hayes, Wm. and Thos. Neil, Phillip Isaminger, John, William and Alex Wilson, Wm. and John Sterne, Henry, Arch and James Steece, Sol. Isaminger, and P. I. Moyer. W. C. Frailey, the present foreman of the foundry, started in as foreman at the beginning, and has continued ever since, except an intermission of six months. Wm. Dundon was cupola tender for 22 years. Of the original moulders only three or four are left, but several of them have sons at present engaged there. The firm originally was Campbell, Ellison & Co. It changed four times afterward - Campbell, Woodrow & Co., Campbell, Mears & Co., Mears, Woodrow & Co., and Mears, Olhaber & Co. That the foundry may be rebuilt and continue its operations in this place is the strong hope and desire of every citizen.