Oregon Iron Company Infrastructure and Legacy

The Oregon Iron Company's infrastructure was a remarkable feat of engineering, with a tramway system that spanned over 13 miles. This extensive network allowed the company to transport iron ore from the mines to the processing facilities.

The company's legacy can be seen in the many buildings and structures that still stand today, including the historic iron ore processing plant. This plant is a testament to the company's innovative approach to iron production.

The Oregon Iron Company's infrastructure was designed to be efficient and productive, with a focus on minimizing waste and maximizing output. The company's innovative approach to iron production had a lasting impact on the industry.

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The Oregon Iron Company was founded in 1865 by brothers Henry and John Green, along with wealthy Portland banker William S. Ladd.

The company's initial goal was to sell its iron product to railroad companies laying tracks through Oregon, but lower-priced iron imported from Scotland lowered sales.

In 1867, workers smelted the first iron ingots produced at the Oregon Iron Company at the confluence of the Willamette River and Sucker Creek, now known as Oswego Creek.

Henry D. Green, an influential investor, purchased the water rights to Sucker Creek and a few acres of land above Oswego Landing in 1862, which would later be used as the site of the Oregon Iron Company.

The company's first plant superintendent was H.C. Leonard, who became the vice-president, and the secretary and company director was Henry D. Green.

By February 1865, twenty stockholders had invested a total of $500,000 in the company, with some stockholders being from New York and San Francisco.

Water disputes and Eastern competitors suspended the company several times before finally operations shut down indefinitely in 1894.

The company continued to operate a pipe foundry on the site of the new furnace until 1928.

The Oregon Iron and Steel Company was reincorporated in 1882, with Simeon Reed and Ladd serving as top executives, and they improved the smelter and developed a pipe-casting plant.

At the factory's height in the late nineteenth century, the iron works employed as many as 600 workers.

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The Oregon Iron & Steel Company was a major player in the industrial iron ore operations and land development of the region.

The company's operations were led by a general superintendent, Mr. F.C. Smith, who took charge of the works in November 1887.

Mr. Smith submitted his letter of resignation to the board of directors in October 1888, citing that his time was worth more to him than the company was paying.

The company's president, Simeon G. Reed, read Mr. Smith's letter into the record of the board minutes.

The Oregon Iron & Steel Company operated from 1882 to 1930, with its board records spanning 48 years.

A project is underway to transcribe the original board records, which is being undertaken by the Lake Oswego Preservation Society in partnership with the Oswego Heritage Council and the Lake Oswego Public Library.

The project aims to reveal valuable historical assets about the company's operations and development of present-day Lake Oswego.

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The Oregon Iron Company's legacy is still visible today in the form of remnants of its infrastructure. The original blast furnace still stands in Lake Oswego's George Rogers Park along the Willamette River.

This historic furnace was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, recognizing its significance in the region's history. It underwent a seven-year restoration in 2010, allowing it to be preserved for future generations.

The company also left behind physical markers of its early operations. One of the first pigs smelted in 1867 is displayed in the Oregon Historical Society, while the other remains in place as a street marker at the northwest corner of Ladd and Durham streets in Lake Oswego.

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The Oregon Iron Company Furnace is a remarkable piece of infrastructure that has stood the test of time. The furnaces were constructed in 1866, and George D. Wilbur from Connecticut supervised the construction, modeling them after the furnaces of the Barnum Richardson Company in Lime Rock, Connecticut.

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The furnaces are impressive structures, measuring 32 feet tall with gothic-style arches lining the walls, 34 feet square at the base, and 26 feet square at the roof. They were constructed from a variety of materials, including basalt from the north side of Lake Oswego, firebrick from Great Britain, and stone.

The stone walls of the furnaces were designed to withstand temperatures of up to 2,800°F, making them a testament to the ingenuity of the builders. The cost of construction was a significant $126,000.

In recent years, the furnace has undergone a major renovation. Work began in July 2009 to repair the deteriorating arches, but it took nine months and $918,000 to complete the project, which was finished in March 2010.

Here's a breakdown of the furnace's dimensions:

The remnants of infrastructure left behind by the Oregon Iron Company are a fascinating glimpse into the region's industrial past. The original blast furnace still stands in George Rogers Park along the Willamette River, the only extant iron furnace west of the Rocky Mountains.

This historic furnace was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. A seven-year restoration of the furnace was completed in 2010, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

One of the first pigs smelted in 1867 is on display at the Oregon Historical Society, while the other remains as a street marker in Lake Oswego. The crucible from the second furnace, which was dismantled and sold for scrap in 1926, is still intact in Roehr Park.

The Oregon Iron Company Furnace, also known as the Oregon Iron Works, was constructed in 1866 under the supervision of George D. Wilbur from Connecticut. The furnaces were modeled after those of the Barnum Richardson Company in Lime Rock, Connecticut, and were built with basalt from the north side of Lake Oswego, firebrick from Great Britain, and other materials.

Here's a breakdown of the furnace's dimensions:

The furnace's stone walls were constructed to withstand temperatures of up to 2,800°F, a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the time. The cost of construction was $126,000, a significant investment for the era.