Although we’re all pretty used to seeing great aerial photography taken by drones, that wasn’t the case fifty years ago, when the above photo was featured on the front page of the Journal on December 5, 1971. So I’m sure the photograph attracted some attention.
As the caption notes, “Steelmaking complex at U. S. Steel in Lorain is captured in this dramatic aerial photo taken by Tom Whittington, The Journal’s chief photographer.
“In the center is the new $80 million basic oxygen process (BOP) facility with structural steel in place to enclose the east end of the BOP shop’s charging aisle where molten iron, scrap and other materials are charged into the top of furnace.
“In foreground are idle open hearth furnaces with 12 stacks which no longer below heavy clouds of smoke because the open hearths have been replaced by the BOP shop.
“In the upper right and left are the five blast furnaces at the Lorain plant. The blast furnace is the meeting place of the raw materials – the charge of iron ore, coke and limestone – from which pig iron is produced.
“In the far background is a portion of the steel plant ore docks on the Black River, and the ore storage area.
“The Lorain steel plant currently employs more than 5,000 hourly workers.”
****
I was lucky enough to work one summer at the mill while I was in college. I wrote about it back here on this post.
****
Here’s an aerial view circa 1975, courtesy of the Ohio History Connection.
5 comments:
5,000 people worked there in the early 1970s.Then over 12,000 at its peak.What happened?Is the plant even open now?
I worked there two summers in college and they were rough. I worked in the blast furnace, removing sludge crust from the flowing iron ore - pretty heavy duty for an intern. Big bucks for summer work and great people.
The 1975 date for the bottom picture can't be correct if the BOP was built in 1971, since there is no BOP shop in the bottom pic.
Hi Doug! Thanks for noticing that. Plus there seems to be smoke coming out of the open hearth smokestacks!
Historian and archivist Dennis Lamont (who was an employee at U. S. Steel) believes the shot is pre-1948. In an email he noted, “#4 Blooming Mill isn’t there and, in fact, most of the original Bessemer buildings are."
Post a Comment