|
The Village of Leetonia, Ohio in Columbiana County has many mine shafts running beneath it. The coal extracted from these mines was burnt in ovens to remove the impurities. The result was a material called coke that can be used as fuel for stoves and furnaces. The Cherry Valley Coke Oven site contains 205 brick Coke Ovens that were used for this purpose. There once were many buildings at the site related to the coal mining and coking operations but those were torn down decades ago. Now the only obvious remnant of the operation are the rows of coke ovens and the long railroad beds that run in between the rows of ovens.
In 1993 the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens site was recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. An Ohio Historical Marker was placed there in 1999. In terms of tourist facilities there is currently a walking trail leading along the rows of ovens, a parking lot, bathroom facilities, a picnic pavilion, and some wooden fences to keep people away from the top of the ovens where they might fall through. However, aside from the parking lot area, the site is in poor shape. The wooden fences have fallen part in many places. The ovens have been mostly covered in vegetation and in time the site will be entirely reclaimed by nature. The nine foot deep railroad beds in between the row of ovens have been filled with water and sediment. The water comes from an old mine entrance that has formed a large pond above the ovens which drains down into the railroad beds.
Residents of Leetonia are trying to build interest in doing a full restoration of the site to return it to way it looked back when the ovens were still in operation. Aside from the goal of historical preservation the restored site would act as a boon for the community of Leetonia by bringing in tourists the area. Beyond just restoring the ovens other aspects of the project could include a community garden and a connection between the site and the local Greenway Bike Trail which is expected to pass through the area when the new addition to the trail is added. This project is just an idea at the moment and will require significant resources and effort to bring to reality. The next steps are to continue building interest in the project within the community and to find funding for the planning stages of the project. The Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation is happy to work with the residents of Leetonia to make this project a reality. The Coal Mines and Coke Ovens were once the economic heart of Leetonia and hopefully they can once again benefit the Village and its people. If you are interested in this project and think you can help please contact the LBCLF.
Resources: Read the Current Plan for the Restoration (PDF) By: Bill Merdich Read a Brochure about the History of the Coke Ovens (PDF) Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Property Map (PDF)
Links: National Register of Historic Places Page for the Coke Ovens |
|
“preservation and protection for future generations” |
|
Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Restoration
|
|
A donation of $10 or more will allow you to become a member of the Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation. |
