Olive Furnace
Also known as: Mt. Olive Furnace; Law-479-1
Why it's listed
Olive Furnace is a sandstone iron furnace stack about 35 feet tall beside SR 93 in Pedro, Lawrence County, Ohio. John Campbell had it built in 1846, and it first went into blast in 1847. The lower third was cut from the hillside behind it, and the upper part is hewn sandstone blocks laid without mortar. A Roman-style arch on the north side once supported boilers, and the nomination calls it unique among furnaces of the Hanging Rock region. The furnace began as a cold blast operation and was converted to hot blast in 1856. It produced roughly 16 tons of iron daily, and its iron went to forges along the Ohio River. Local history also links it to aiding runaway slaves. Campbell is known as the 'Father of Ironton.' Operations ended in the early 1900s, and the supporting buildings were demolished after the 1910 sale. The stack is now the main surviving element, with some collapse in the arches and interior walls and a ruined 1930s log cabin on the site.
Significance in brief: The furnace is tied to the early industrial development of the Hanging Rock Iron Region (Criterion A) and to John Campbell, the 'Father of Ironton' (Criterion B). It is also notable under Criterion C for its unique Roman-style stone arch, which the nomination says is the only one of its kind among furnaces in the region.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07000299, listed April 12, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | OH 93 at TR 239 (Olive Branch Rd.), Pedro |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | April 12, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000299 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1846-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Built by John Campbell and John Peters; construction by Madison Cole, William Clements and J. L. Thompson |
| Architectural style | OTHER/Iron Furnace |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Only the stone stack remains. The site is vacant or not in use. Some deterioration from abandonment and weather, including a fallen west arch and a hole in the north arch. |
| Acreage | 6.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.76219, -82.63041 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07000299.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16896136
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.