Center Furnace – Also spelled Centre Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1836 By Wm. Carpenter & Others
Daily Ton: 16
Stack: 40 Feet
Blast: Charcoal
Researched by Sharon M. Kouns
W. D. Corn says he has a good school at Centre. His brother Ed is here attending school. W. D. makes things go. He puts Ed and some of the boys through extra lessons before school in the morning and after dismissal in the evening. There is not a more energetic, indefatigable, or thorough teacher in Lawrence county than W. D. Corn. Ironton Register, July 30, 1885
COMMON PLEAS COURT – Ironton Register, SEPT. 26, 1867 – The report of the Commissioner in the Center Furnace case was found correct, and the furnace was ordered to be sold. **Note: Was sold by Sheriff’s Sale to W. D Kelly in 1868,
IR March 21, 1872 – Transfers of Real Estate – Lindsey Kelly to Ironton A. Kelly, one-twelfth of Centre Furnace, $3,866; Lindsey Kelly to Wm. D. Kelly, one-twelve of Centre Furnace, $3,866; Wm. D. Kelly to Lindsey Kelly, 1/2 of Grant Furnace, $1; Wm. D. Kelly to Ironton A. Kelly, 1/2 of Grant Furnace, $1; Wm. D. Kelly to James Craig, lots 50, 51, and 52, W. D. Kelly add. to Ironton $350.
Ironton Register, July 30, 1885 – (Country Notes) – Center is quiet. Only a few families are living on the furnace grounds. The men are working on the farm. Richard Dovel is growing into a farmer. He stirs late and early. He is now amid his hay and oat harvest.
Lindsey Kelly spends part of his time out here, mostly at the station, where the company is having some ore mined. They get about a thousand tons a month. They now ship seven cars of burnt ore a day to Etna Iron Works. J. R. Cook weighs the ore at the station and assists Mr. Kelly in the management of the work.
W. D. Corn says he has a good school at the Centre. His brother Ed is here attending school. W. D. makes things go. He puts Ed and some of the boys through extra lessons before school in the morning and after dismissal in the evening. There is not a more energetic, indefatigable, or thorough teacher in Lawrence county than W. D. Corn.
We met W. B. G. Hatcher at the Center. He is surveying the Centre lands to make a topographical map. He has quite a good deal of work in the field – four or six weeks – before he is ready for work on his map. Thomas Harris, brother of Dave and Al., is assisting Mr. Hatcher, and receiving instruction in practical surveying.
Ironton Register, June 28, 1888 – We understand that the ore miners at Etna, Vesuvius, Lawrence, Bartles, and Center Furnaces have gone out on demand for $1.25 per ton for digging and the enforcement of the law requiring semi-monthly pays. They have been getting various prices, ranging from 80 cents to $1.20 per ton, with the law enforced in some instances. A meeting of the miners is to be held this Wednesday afternoon, when the matter may be adjusted.
IR Apr. 14, 1892 – An Old Timer …letter from Amos Carpenter… “My father (Wm. Carpenter), Fred Bartles, John Steece, Joseph Huffman, and Wm. Wolf built Center furnace in 1836 and sold it to Robt. Hamilton, Jas. Rodgers and Wm. Shirer.”
William D. Kelly leased Centre Furnace from 1862-1867 and made money. Another article stated that he bought Centre Furnace in 1862. (need to verify)
Ironton Register, August 17, 1899 – CENTER FURNACE – After a long period of silence, this furnace is to resume blast, and preparations have already begun. Mrs. Lindsey Kelly has leased the property to a company composed of W. C. Amos, H. L. Amos, L. D. Davis, Dr. O. Ellison, Dr. H. B. Justice, and Wm. Laird, which company is incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. Of this concern, H. L. Amos will be President and Superintendent, and L. D. Davis will be Secretary and Treasurer. The lease is for one year with the privilege of five, and the rental is one ton of pig iron for every 15 tons produced.
Mrs. Kelly bought this property at a trustee’s sale in June 1898, paying $19,700. It will take the lessees until December to get things ready for a blast, but the slow process of charcoal production will occasion this delay. The furnace itself can be got ready for running in a short time. The store will be opened right away. We are informed that some prominent ironmen are at the back of the enterprise.
0 Comments