Coke Ovens & Canoe Run
It is hard to imagine that this area with such a tranquil, natural beauty was once a thriving industrial community. Within feet of every home was a long line of coke ovens. At one time there were 100 of them, neatly and skillfully constructed in a beehive pattern, back to back and covered with earth. These ovens processed coal that was transported prom the hill across the river by a cable and giant bucket. The coal was processed refined product coke.and transported to the iron works in Emporium. Now only a section of the ovens remain, and those are showing collapse and decay. Looking inside the construction, it is evident the skill that was involved. The colors and melting from years of heat during use is unique and beautiful.
The people at Canoe Run worked hard and lived simple lives. Some of the things that we found included old buttons, a sash belt buckle, suspender clasp, copper wedding band, pocket knife, animal bell and a small handful of coins (mostly Indian Head pennies). A corrective horse shoe and a mule shoe.
Kerosene lamps, old square nails, railroad spikes, pockets watches and piles of bullets and shot gun shells.
Bits of broken pottery and glass, some of which is very beautiful.
Many of the people who lived and worked at Canoe Run were immigrants. Andrew Olkosky was told to have been a strong you man who left to fight World War I. He lost his life and was laid to rest in France.
Alexander Olkosky Memorial on Find A Grave
Canoe Run Cemetery
A cemetery was at one time neatly tended to and carefully fenced in, flood waters washed away any sign of it. Some say that people made the unmarked stone markers into a fire ring, not realizing what they were. A section of old iron fence, possibly a section of the cemetery fence can still be seen. The piece no longer stands so the location of where it once stood cannot be determined. It is propped against a tree with a piece of bed frame.
