The remains of the Marquette Cement Manufacturing Company.
A multitude of structures litter this valley in the now-dead town of Superior, Ohio. Once a prosperious area boasting a hotel and a movie theatere, most of the town was abandoned in the 1960′s.
History
A multitude of structures litter this valley in the now-dead town of Superior, Ohio. Once a prosperous area, the town of Superior, Ohio was demolished in the 1960′s so that the land could be strip mined. The first building was erected in the early-1900′s and was abandoned in 1987. As this was once an active cement factory, dust masks and boots are highly recommended, or else you will leave with a dry throat that will last for days.
A multitude of structures litter this valley in the now-dead town of Superior, Ohio. Once a prosperous area boasting a hotel and a movie theater, most of the town was abandoned in the 1960′s for a strip mine. The first building at the cement company was erected in the early-1900′s and was all abandoned in 1988.
Disputes
The Marquette Cement Plant in Superior, Ohio closed in 1986 due to labor disputes. The negotiations continued onward to 1988 but the company decided in the end to close the factory because it was far too inefficient and small.
When the Detroit-Toledo-Ironton Railroad (DT&I) operated until 1982, there was a 100-car rail spur that serviced the cement factory. The rail spur had a ‘public notice of abandonment’ on December 29, 1981 with the line being abandoned in January of the next year. The closure and abandonment of many industries that once lined the DT&I was what caused the railroad to fold, instead of being reused by another company, south of Jackson to Ironton. After the railroad ceased to exist, limestone had to be trucked from Wheelersburg and other points; because of that, basic ingredients for cement came at a much higher transportation cost. The former rail scales were converted for truck-use only at around this time.
Gallery
I was out there on 10-25-10 and it looks like the demolition has begun. I was there last summer and A LOT has been torn down since then. The offices and the brick building are gone and part of the metal structure is as well. Scrap metal, maybe? If you want to see it you should go soon before it's gone!
I was there last night.. It's an interesting exploration. A lot of the premise has been demolished, but there's still plenty to see. I totally recommend a visit.