Sarah Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1877
By: HIRAM CAMPBELL & SONS AND 2 SON-IN-LAWS
Researched by Sharon M. Kouns
Ironton Register, Thursday, October 18, 1877 – Sarah Furnace – This is the name of H. Campbell & Sons’ new furnace, which enterprise is being pushed far toward completion.
About all the brickwork is done; the stack is up and nearly lined; one of the three Whitwell ovens is completed, and the sheet iron portion of the others is finished; the smoke stack, which is to be 107 feet high, is now at an altitude of 54 feet, the base of 15 feet, being brick.
The underground flues are all completed; the boilers are in position; the engine house is nearly ready for the machinery, which is far advanced at Lambert & Gordon’s; the fire brick for the hearth is in the casting house; work on the stock house is about to commence; the incline to bring the stock up from the river is nearly finished.
This is about the status of things at the furnace. Putting in the hearth and placing the machinery are the principal items before the furnace is ready for the blast. The furnace can blow in by the first of January next, but the proprietors are disposed to take it leisurely.
Mr. J. H. Campbell has undertaken the general supervision of the furnace construction, and the institution will, without doubt, be a standing compliment to his taste and judgment. The furnace is not a large one but is provided with modern appliances, calculated to cheapen the cost of production. This, in connection with the fact that the furnace has been built at a time when labor and material are low, will give “Sarah” furnace a marked advantage in the market.
Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 – Rumor says the “Sarah” will blow in during the coming week. Success.
Ironton Register, November 26, 1885 – (Iron News) – Messrs. W. C. Amos, James Bird, J. H. Moulton, and a Cincinnati party have rented Sarah Furnace and propose to put her in blast in about 60 days. Work begins immediately to get the stacks ready.
The furnace stack will be ten feet higher, and the smoke stack will be 40 feet higher. New ling and boshes will be put in. The boshes will be 14 feet, and the height of the stack will be 60 feet. There will be some changes in the hot blast. The new company has contracted Campbell Iron Co. to supply them with ore and lime from Mt. Vernon lands. The ore is to be delivered, burned, and screened. Mr. Amos will be the general manager; Mr. Bird will be the founder; and Mr. Moulton will be, Secretary and Treasurer.
Ironton Register, January 14, 1886 – They are ready for laying brick at Sarah, but cold weather interferes. The furnace and stack are both raised.
Ironton Register, June 9, 1887 – On Wednesday of last week, A. Plumer of the Etna Iron Works bought Sarah Furnace, paying $52,000 for it. Bird & Peters’ lease expires on October 1st, but arrangements may be made by which the purchaser will take the property on July 1. The price covers the mortgages on the property.
Ironton Register, October 25, 1888 – Fatal Accident – This Wednesday morning, George Price, who worked at Sarah Furnace, was choked to death by escaping gas, and the body badly burned. The bell had become disarranged, and he was overcome by the gases and fell where the flame had burned him awfully.
Putting in the hearth and placing the machinery are the principal items before the furnace is ready for the blast. The furnace can blow in by the first of January next, but the proprietors are disposed to take it leisurely.
Mr. J. H. Campbell has undertaken the general supervision of the furnace construction, and the institution will, without doubt, be a standing compliment to his taste and judgment. The furnace is not a large one but is provided with modern appliances, calculated to cheapen the cost of production. This, in connection with the fact that the furnace has been built at a time when labor and material are low, will give “Sarah” furnace a marked advantage in the market. [Sarah Furnace was named for Sarah Woodrow, the 2nd wife of Hiram Campbell.]
IR Jan. 14, 1886 – They are ready to lay brick at Sarah, but cold weather interferes. The furnace and stack are both raised.
IR June 9, 1887 – Iron Items – On Wednesday of last week, A. Pluemer of the Etna Iron Works bought Sarah Furnace, paying $52,000 for it. Bird & Peters’ lease expires on October 1st, but arrangements may be made by which the purchaser will take the property on July 1. The price covers the mortgage on the property.
IR Dec. 31, 1891 – The Closing Year. – Sarah Furnace has now been put in good shape and will be operated on early in the year.
IR May 12, 1892 – Mr. Martindels?, foundryman at Sarah Furnace, has resigned, and Mr. William Richards, who blew Belfont eight or ten years ago, succeeds him. Mr. Richards is a fine furnaceman. He will take hold next Monday.
IR Apr. 3, 1903 – District Organizer Charles Hardy of the Blast Furnace Workers and Smelters of America organized a Friday night local union composed of Sarah Furnace employees. The union starts with a membership of 65. Frederick Clay was chosen president, and Frank Coe was the board’s secretary.
The Owners of Sarah Furnace Incorporate Under the Above Name.
Ironton Weekly Republican, May 23, 1896
The Richey Iron and Steel Co. of Ironton, the capital stock of $100,000, has been incorporated. The charter was secured, and the organization was effected at Columbus Monday.
Mr. Oscar Richey of Ironton was made President, and Col. Chas. Parrott of Columbus secretary and treasurer.
The incorporators of the company are the present owners of Sarah furnace. Their object in incorporating, as explained to a reporter by Mr. Richey, is to get their business in better shape to carry out the purposes of their investment and also to avoid the processes of adjusting affairs in the courts in case of the death of a partner, as occurs in the partnership business, and which the owners of Sarah furnace experienced after the death of Mr. B. S. Brown, who was one of the owners of the furnace.
The new company has released the furnace to the Kelly Nail and Iron Co., which will operate as heretofore. So the formation of the new company will make no material changes in the affairs of Sarah furnace.
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