Cherry Valley Coke Ovens

Cherry Valley Coke Ovens
Location Jct. of Cherry Valley and Butcher Rds., Leetonia, Ohio
Coordinates 40°53′13″N 80°45′59.0004″W / 40.88694°N 80.766389000°W / 40.88694; -80.766389000Coordinates: 40°53′13″N 80°45′59.0004″W / 40.88694°N 80.766389000°W / 40.88694; -80.766389000
Area 10.5 acres (4.2 ha)
Built 1866
NRHP Reference # 93000404[1]
Added to NRHP May 6, 1993

The Cherry Valley Coke Ovens consisted of 200 coke ovens built by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company around 1866, near Leetonia, Ohio, United States. The function of the "beehive" coke ovens was to purify coal and turn it into coke. The coke was burned in furnaces that produced iron and steel.

The site, also known as Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Arboretum, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. An Ohio Historical Marker was added in 1999. Outside of the Connellsville Coke District in Pennsylvania, this site represents one of the largest remaining site of intact beehive coke ovens in North America.[2]

History

The ovens were built by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company around 1866 to purify coal and turn it into coke. The coke was then burned in furnaces that produced iron and steel.[3][4][5]

The Leetonia Iron and Coal Company went bankrupt in 1873 was taken over by the Cherry Valley Iron Works. The Cherry Valley ovens produced over 70,000 tons annually at their peak in 1900. The Great Depression and the developing steel industry put the operation out of business.[6]

The site was donated to the village of Leetonia for a park in 1982, and, in 1986, the village council appointed a commission to transform the area into a park.[5]

Restoration and park

The village of Leetonia developed the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Park on the site. The area is heavily wooded area with hiking trails in and around the coke ovens and other sites of the former Cherry Valley Iron & Coal Co. The project was undertaken by the village of Leetonia to protect the site of a large part of the village’s history.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Greier, Mary Ann (30 October 2010). "Leetonia coke ovens earn prestigious award". Morning Journal (Lisbon, Ohio). Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Leetonia Cherry Valley Coke Ovens". Village of Leetonia. Village of Leetonia, Ohio. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 Wilkinson, D. A. (9 May 2010). "PARK on the GROW | Leetonia seeks to expand historical site". Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  5. 1 2 Tullis, Nancy (9 August 2003). "Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Park seeks $5,500 for storm damage". Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Carey, Miriam; Ian Adams (2007). Backroads of Ohio: Your Guide to Ohio's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures. Voyageur Press. p. 68. ISBN 9780760327722. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
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