The Mosaic Tile Company bought the former Carlyle Tile Company. The company remained under Mosaic Tile Company control until 1973. In 1973, the company went into “Debtor in Possession.”
From 1973 to 1978, the company was reorganized under the name Mosaic Tile and Structural Stoneware. The new company lasted only five years before it closed in 1978.
The Semet Solvay Company was manufacturers of coke. Coke is a hard, dry substance produced by heating coal to a very high temperature in the absence of air. Then, the coke is used in the manufacturing of iron and steel.
In the 1800’s, three relatives would join to develop a new process for coke plants. Louis Semet developed the new process with his relatives, Ernest and Alfred Solvay. They designed a coke oven which would recover valuable materials lost in most coking processing at the time.
Iron City Fuels was located at 3329 South 3rd Street in Ironton. The company found a home in the former Semet-Solvay Company building. The company opened its doors in 1983. In 1984, Jack Baker was the secretary and treasurer. By 1986, it was out of business.
The Yellow Poplar Lumber Company was originally owned by Chicago Lumber Company. The Yellow Poplar took over after a fire damaged the property.
Yellow Poplar Lumber Company restored the business and would employ seven hundred men.
On March 1, 1925, Indiana Flooring Company bought the Yellow Poplar Lumber Company. However, the company was short lived. In 1928, Indiana Flooring Company went bankrupt. The property was sold at public auction.
The Christenson House was located at 720 Washington Street. The five story brick building was the work of careful planning. The building was a result of the work of many individuals who saw the population of Lawrence County aging, but with few options. Dr. Paul J. Christenson, the former pastor of the First Baptist Church, was one of the proponents of public housing. Because of his actions, the Christenson House was named in his honor.
Also known as the A. R. Johnson Law Offices, the Christner & Wolfe office building is located at 425 Center Street in Ironton, Ohio. Built in 1897, the building has Queen Anne architectural style. The two and a half story building has a basement. Both the foundation and walls are made of brick. A slate, hip roof tops the rectangular shaped building. Three central bays with arched transoms can be seen on the front of the offices. A slightly recessed entry way welcomes visitors. Rusticated stone was used to make the lintels on all of the windows and a water course.
Although the city has not used the incinerator since 1942, the smokeless stack was still visible from Campbell Drive in 1961. In the 1890’s, the stack was used as the city’s pest house during a small pox epidemic..
The Crystal Ice Company was located on the corner of Seventh and Railroad Streets. The earliest listing for the company can be found in the 1893-1894 Ironton Directory. At that time the business was called Crystal Ice Factory and Joshua F. Austin was the president. By 1904, the address for the company was listed as 217 Railroad Street. James Hudson was the president, J.D. Foster was the Vice President, and W. J. Doran was the secretary. James Hudson was also a county commissioner and a vice president of the Gas Company.
The DT&I or Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad had its roots in Ironton, Ohio. The railroad can be traced back to the Iron Railway which was incorporated in 1849 to transport farm products and mineral products from the fields of Lawrence County to Ironton. It was Dr. Caleb Briggs who suggested making Ironton the final destination for this railroad.
In 1902, the Detroit Southern Railway bought the Iron Railway. Unfortunately, the line was in financial trouble and ended in bankruptcy in 1903.
