ROLLING MILLS

Steel from the open-hearths in 100-ton ladles was poured into molds, then the ingots were stripped from the molds and sent to the soaking pits where they were heated to working temperature. From there the glowing ingots were run through a blooming mill and onto the merchant mills where they were made into square and flat bars and rounds.

The billets, a major portion of the production output, were shipped out while the rounds were turned into wire, nails, barbed wire, woven wire fencing and fence posts. This latter business was thriving right up through the closing of the hot-side and even continued a while longer. A caption on one historic photo says "rail finishing building" since a rail mill was installed. However, the era of railroad expansion was over by 1916 when the rail mill was ready to produce. It took until 1922 before a bloom/billet mill was installed in its place.

	Rolling mill under construction.
Rolling mill building near completion.
	Rolling mill buildings in the twilight years.
Soaking pits which bring ingots up to working temperature.