Armco's General History

By: Gracie Taylor

“Spirit is that thing which grips and holds the hearts of men and gives the power of extraordinary accomplishment, when working for a worthy purpose.” - George M. Verity. The Ashland Rolling Mill Company was established on December 2nd, 1899. It was assembled by George M. Verity, along with the vice president and manager of The American Steel Roofing Company. (The American Steel Roofing Company was originally named The Sagendorph Iron Roofing and Corrugating Company. It was located in Cincinnati, and was organized by Major H.P Lloyd and L. L. Sagendorph. George M. Verity took over the company in 1889, and the name then changed to American Steel Roofing Company in 1891.) They manufactured corrugated iron, iron and steel roofings of many types, galvanized conductor pipe and eaves trough, metal lath, roof ventilators, and many other materials. A gala was held in the town of Middletown, Ohio, to welcome Armco, and was considered a “cordial” greeting. This gala was of so much importance, that the national guard was in attendance. The American Steel Roofing Company was absorbed by Armco in 1900. Armco began working at Middletown in 1901, which was close to the same time the United States Steel Corporation was created. This corporation then absorbed almost all of the rolling mill companies. At this time, sheet iron and sheet steel were largely manufactured, which led to the making of the product known as “galvanized iron”. As of 1921, the company was running fabulously, with George M. Verity as the president, J. H. Frantz as the Vice President, R.C. Phillips as the secretary, C. W. Verity as the treasurer, C.R. Hook as the Vice President and General Manager, and W.S. Horner, F.H. Simpson, and J.M. Iseminger as just a few of the directors. In 1922, Armco then established its Ashland location along the Ohio River. In the year 1923, the first continuous ribbon of steel was passed through the mill with major success, which led to the mass production of consumer goods and automobiles. Today, this is described as one of history’s ten greatest inventions. When the year 1960 arrived, the company had grown to employ five thousand people. At this point in time, they had begun to produce pig iron, flat rolled carbon steel, and coils. The business was also greatly involved in World War ll, as they provided materials for manufacturing purposes, which was beneficial to the community during the war. Armco gained major respect from the community, and became an astonishing addition to the city.  

In 1963, the company built an astounding furnace, called the Amanda Blast Furnace. It was the largest furnace in the free world, and stood for fifty nine years, reaching a height of two hundred and thirty four feet, also managing to be the first furnace with an automated stack house. The furnace produced six thousand tons of iron per day. In 1994, Armco and Kawasaki Steel formed a partnership. American Rolling Mill Company and AK Steel merged, (also becoming Armco-Kawasaki). As time went on, the economy began to change. Competition within the steel plant industry began to surge, and business began to change. In 2015, Amanda Blast Furnace and Ashland Steel Shop’s employment decreased to around two hundred and fifty people. By 2019, the number of employees then drastically decreased to twelve people. In 2020, Cleveland Cliffs acquired AK Steel along with ArcelorMittal, (which was another manufacturing company), changing the name from AK Steel to Cleveland Cliffs. As a result of this, seven additional blast furnaces were added within the company. A company that was once thriving had now become faint. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and as for the business, its end was in January of 2021, as the decision was made to permanently terminate Ashland’s plant, also terminating the workforce. The business that had provided for so many families, and had made so many impacts on the community would be closing for good. As for the Amanda Blast Furnace, her days were limited as well. In June of 2021, it was confirmed that the furnace would be facing its end in the coming months, due to the company wanting to use the scraps at other Cleveland Cliff facilities. On February 8th, 2022, the Amanda Blast Furnace stood for her final moments, as her reign ended with just the push of a button by a steel worker, Melvin Smith, who had worked with the furnace for forty of his forty five years with the company, and had been through all of her ups and downs. I think I speak for the entire community when I say that Armco has done so many wondrous things during its years in our beautiful town. It has provided for so many families in the area, and has become a traditional working facility among families. It has left marks on the community that can never be erased, and it has changed the city for the better. The bond between this business, the employees, and the people in the community will never relinquish. No matter how long it is gone, it will never be forgotten. 

Sources: American Rolling Mill Company, The First Twenty Years, Champlin Printing Co