Nestled along the winding New River in Fayette County, West Virginia, lies Nuttallburg, a town forged from the ambitions of English entrepreneur John Nuttall. With foresight and determination, Nuttall acquired land rich in coal seams, anticipating the arrival of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in the early 1870s.
Abandoned Posts
Some time back, I revisited Jeannette Glass in Pennsylvania as I came across an outdated article regarding its pending demolition. Fearing that Jeannette could be gone sooner rather than later, I packed my bags, hopped into my car, dialed up some music and pointed my compass east.
Some time back, I revisited Jeannette Glass in Pennsylvania as I came across an outdated article regarding its pending demolition. Fearing that Jeannette could be gone sooner rather than later, I packed my bags, hopped into my car, dialed up some music and pointed my compass east.
Jeannette wasn’t just an ordinary glass plant. Founded in 1887, the plant closed just short of its 100th anniversary. The company introduced the first semi-automatic bottle blowing machine, manufactured beautiful Depression-era glass, and had installed the largest electric glass furnace in the world to melt heat-resisting glass.
But a buyout by a Connecticut businessman who had no knowledge of the glass industry forced Jeannette Glass into Chapter 11 bankruptcy just a year after its purchase. The businessman, John P. Brogan, bought the profitable factory and bled its assets for quick personal gain.
Not long after its closure, New York businessman Abe Zion acquired the Jeannette factory for $4 million in a bankruptcy sale. Zion had hoped to reopen the factory, but there were delays – first by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection due to hazardous wastes and industrial pollution, and a fire in the mid-1980s that caused significant damage. The state attempted to force Zion’s hand in 2011 and have him demolish the plant, but only minimal work has been completed since then.
Not that much has changed, with the exception of some clearing and a few buildings that have been razed. Click through for more on Jeannette Glass »
On June 15, Kentucky’s newest rail trail will open between West Van Lear to Royalton along the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Dawkins Subdivision. The 18.5 mile Big Lovely Mountain Rail Trail will be open to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. One of its highlights is the 662-foot Gun Creek Tunnel and several trestles.
Thurmond, West Virginia is a fascinating town along the New River in Fayette County. With just a population of five, Thurmond served as an important stop for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad before the advent of the diesel locomotive era.
Amid the rugged terrain and verdant valleys of West Virginia, the echoes of an industrial age resonate through the winding corridors of abandoned railroads, now repurposed as recreational havens. These remnants of a bygone era stand as monuments to the indomitable spirit that once propelled the engines of progress, their steel rails beckoning visitors to embark on journeys of discovery.
Shenango China was once one of America’s great restaurantware and dinnerware manufacturers. Located in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Shenango produced Incaware, “Castleton China” and “American Haviland,” along with other brands and styles.
Shenango China was once one of America’s great restaurantware and dinnerware manufacturers. Located in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Shenango produced Incaware, “Castleton China” and “American Haviland,” along with other brands and styles.
Shenango’s roots date to 1901, when several capitalists came together to construct a plant at Emery Street and the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad, manufacturing plain and decorated semi-vitreous china. In January 1905, Shenango was forced into receivership and was reorganized as Shenango Pottery in 1909.
The company purchased New Castle Pottery in 1912, and all equipment was moved into New Castle’s facility by March 1913. New Castle was organized in 1901, when the company purchased the plant of the New Castle Shovel Works and an adjoining handle factory. It completed additions and buildings to house kilns, producing semi-vitreous hotelware and dinnerware.
There was pent-up demand for dinnerware and overglaze hotelware by the end of World War II. Shenango responded by expanding the plant, adding space for decorating and a new 200-foot tunnel kiln. In the 1950s, the plant was further modernized and saw the installation of the first fast fire kiln, which fire glost ware in one hour and ten minutes – beating a previous time of anywhere from 36 to 40 hours.
In 1959, Shenango acquired Wallace China and Mayer China in 1964. The company was sold four years later to Inerpace Corporation, who had manufactured Franciscan and fine china. Inerpace invested into Shenango, adding a cup manufacturing system, new bisque kilns and decorating kilns. It had also developed the “Valiela” decorating process, which reduced the cost of printing greatly.
Inerpace sold Shenango to Anchor Hocking in 1979, who spent considerable money installing computerized body batch making, and new clay forming, decorating and firing equipment. Anchor Hocking sold Shenango to Newell Company of Freeport, Illinois, in 1987 who then sold the plant to Canadian Pacific six months later. Canadian Pacific was the parent company of Syracuse China. Syracuse, citing labor costs, closed Shenango and reorganized; all former employees had to reapply for their old positions, and many did not return.
Canadian Pacific sold Shenango, along with Mayer and Syracuse, to the Pfaltzgraff Company of York, Pennsylvania in 1989. The Mayer operation was moved to Shenango, and plans were drawn up for an expansion, but consolidation in physical plants and a downturn in the economy led to the permanent closure of New Castle’s facility in December 1991.
An auction was held in 1992. Many finished goods did not sell. Two fires, both ruled arson, consumed parts of Shenango in June 2011 and May 2012.
The historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Youngstown, Ohio is set to be demolished in May in a project that will take four months to complete.
Nestled in the Westwood neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, at 2918 Werk Road, stood the Gamble House, an imposing 2 1/2-story, 13-room residence that embodied the grandeur of the Queen Anne style.
The historic Glencoe-Auburn Place and Hotel in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio is being demolished after spending years in redevelopment limbo.
A suspicious fire was reported on February 11 at the former Glen Rogers High School in Glen Rogers, West Virginia.
In a turn of events that serves as a sobering lesson on the perils of shortsighted development, The Foundry at South Strabane, a retail development near Washington, Pennsylvania, faces an ominous fate – demolition.
The opportunity to document a significant industrial site facing the threat of demolition is a rare occurrence, as most sites are inaccessible due to security concerns, reluctant owners or property managers, or liability issues. However, nestled in a corner at the junction of Lisbon and Evins streets in Cleveland, Ohio, where the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad and the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate) converged, stood a collection of businesses that left an indelible mark on Cleveland’s history, growth, and influence.
Situated along East 79th Street in the Kinsman neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, the Van Dorn Iron Works once stood as a bastion of industrial prowess.
The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad (CH&D) Wellston Division was initially constructed as part of the Dayton and Southeastern (D&SE), who had proposed a line southeast of Dayton, Ohio to Wellston in 1878 to connect to the developing
The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad (CH&D) Wellston Division was initially constructed as part of the Dayton and Southeastern (D&SE), who had proposed a line southeast of Dayton, Ohio to Wellston in 1878 to connect to the developing southeastern Ohio coal markets. The Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad (TC&St.L) was completed in 1882 as a narrow gauge line from Ironton Junction south of Wellston to Bartles/Dean Junction, providing service to Kitchen, Gallia, Hoadley and Olive, several kilns and coal mines. The line was not successful and went through several receiverships and acquisitions beginning in 1884. The TC&St.L eventually became part of the CH&D in 1891 and converted to standard gauge in 1887.
The line south of Ironton Junction included four tunnels:
- Tunnel #1 at Hoadley was brick lined.
- Tunnel #2 at Hoadley was 693 feet long with a rock interior and timber portals, and partially concrete lined in 1916.
- Tunnel #3 at Tar Kiln Run east of Dean, which has collapsed.
- Tunnel #4 at Royersville, which was operated by the Iron Railroad, later part of the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad (DT&I). This tunnel is unlined.
In 1916, some tunnel improvements were completed south of Wellston at Tunnel #2. The CH&D was absorbed into the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) network and became the Toledo Division. The railroad south of Wellston, totaling 35 miles, was abandoned due to a lack of originating traffic and flooding that had washed out much of the line.
A view of the CH&D alignment south of Olive Furnace. OH 93 was later built on top part of the alignment.
Tunnel No. 1 at Hoadley was brick lined.
Tunnel No. 2 at Hoadley was 693 feet long with a rock interior and timber portals, and was partially concrete lined in 1916.
Below: A spur from the CH&D, later served by the DT&I after the railroad was abandoned, served the Du Brul/Pyro/A.P. Green fire brick factory. The plant, 4.5-miles northeast of Oak Hill, was originally built by the Du Brul Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. It was incorporated on September 15, 1903 by E.F. Du Brul, H. Whyrich, F. Broerman, D.S. Du Brul and W.G. Griffiths, all from Cincinnati. The company had proposed both a cement and fire brick plant, but only the latter was ever completed.3
On May 28, 1909, Du Bru was reorganized into the Pyro Clay Products Company with an authorized capital of $150,000.2 It was headed by E.F. Du Brul as President and W.G. Griffiths as Secretary and General Manager. It was a tight affair: it’s board of directors was comprised of E.F. Du Brul, W.G. Griffiths and Napoleon Du Brul.
Below: Pyro was developed as a company town in 1918, and featured 30 residences, a company store and school. While Pyro was hard hit with competition, it eventually became known for its famous Pyro fire brick that was used in steel mills across the United States.2 In 1930, Griffith and some associates purchased the Du Brul family’s interest and the firm was reorganized with W.G. Griffiths as President.
Pyro later purchased The Durex Refractories Company of Jackson and The Portsmouth Clay Products Company of South Webster.2 In 1953, the company name was changed to The Pyro Refractories Company, and purchased three years later by the A.P. Green Refractories Company 2 of Mexico, Missouri, and Pyro was made a subsidiary of The United States Gypsum Corporation. The plant was significantly expanded with a new refractory speciality plant in 1971.
Below: A view of Ed Davis Road in Glen Roy, part of the DT&I/Hocking Valley Railroad Jackson Branch. The CH&D was to the right.
Below: A view of the CH&D through Glen Roy, west of Wellston.
Below: A view of the CH&D in Wellston. The DT&I/Hocking Valley Railroad Jackson Branch crossed at a diamond behind this vantage point, and continued northbound, paralleling the CH&D.
Sources
- Davis, Evan Edward. “The Pyro Clay Products Company.” Industrial History of Oak Hill, Ohio. N.p.: n.p., 1973. 39-40. Print.
- Davis, Evan Edward. “The Du Brul Company.” Industrial History of Oak Hill, Ohio. N.p.: n.p., 1973. 39. Print.
The Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad (DT&I) is a defunct railroad that began in southern Ohio as the Iron Railroad Company, which connected Ironton to the coal and timber reserves in the southern part of the state. Through acquisitions and mergers, the DT&I stretched for over 370 miles from Ironton to the automobile manufacturing plants in Michigan
This Queen Anne-styled building at 2313 East 55th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, was not only a residence but home to several businesses and murders.
For far too long, cities across the United States have treated the rehabilitation of historic properties as an afterthought, a pursuit undertaken only when a neighborhood has reached a critical juncture, with precious few buildings remaining, or when the inexorable tide of gentrification has already set in motion. But what fate befalls those structures that lie beyond the purview of future restoration initiatives, left to the ravages of neglect, stripped of their essence, and destined to collapse under the weight of their own decrepitude?
The trajectory of the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, an enterprise that ascended to unprecedented dominance before succumbing to market forces, represents a remarkable narrative worthy of examination.
The Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, once the world’s largest magazine publishing house, once boasted its printing operations in Springfield, Ohio.
While exploring Virginia’s back roads, I came upon the former New River, Holston and Western Railroad (NH&W) that once extended from the Norfolk & Western (N&W) at Narrows on the New River in Giles County to the village of Suiter in Bland County, Virginia. The 43-mile line followed Wolf Creek or its tributaries for its entire length.