Belgian Coke Ovens at Vinton Furnace
N 39° 12.296 W 082° 24.444
17S E 378480 N 4340462
Possibly the only remaining standing Belgian Style coke ovens in the United States, also used to roast iron ore for a short period.
Waymark Code: WMJ9G
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 07/26/2006
Views: 123
The Belgian Coke Ovens are a battery of 24 chambers constructed out of ceramic blocks. Each block is numbered as to it's position in the construction of the ovens. Originally, the ovens had iron doors, and tracks on which cars containing ore, and another with a pusher engine, would move.
Coal would be loaded in through the top of the furnace, and the doors closed. After coking, a pusher engine would push the processed coke out through the doors.
The ovens were also used for a short time to roast iron ore before being processed in the adjacent Vinton Iron Furnace.
Scattered remains of coal, coke, iron ore, and slag can be found in the area. The ovens are still mostly intact, with the exception of a few on the ends.
The Olde Forester has an excellent site here: (
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Another good site is here: (
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