Belgian Coke Oven Ruins, Vinton

Originally built to produce coke from coal, they did not work and were partially responsible for the demise of the operation. The ovens were originally built in Belgium (hence the name), and used in Connellsville, PA. All other constructions are believed to have been destroyed - to the best of our knowledge, the structures remaining at the Vinton site are the only remaining ones left in the world. At the Vinton site, they did not work, due to the high sulfer content in the local hill coal. The higher sulfer content in the coke produced a brittle grade of iron. While several of the ovens were demolished years ago, seventeen of the ovens remain standing. Six were probably destroyed on the south end when the coal hoppers were pulled down for salvage. The first oven on the north end was destroyed, but the reason is unclear. In all, the original structure included twenty-four ovens.