Coke Ovens

	U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Mid-Continent Region

COKE OVENS

West Blocton's "Beehive Coke Ovens" were built in the 1880's as rich seams of coal were found in the area. Truman Aldrich, the founder of Blocton and the Town of West Blocton, organized the Cahaba Coal Mining Company in 1883 and built the Blocton Coke Ovens. Four batteries of 467 coke ovens produced 600 tons of Coke a day!

The ovens were designed to turn high quality coal into coke. The coke was transported by rail for use in the iron and steel foundries in the nearby Bessemer and Birmingham areas.

OSM/VISTA volunteer, Elizabeth Salter, with the Cahaba River Society applied for and received a grant for conceptual design work at the Blocton Coke Ovens Park. To help showcase these historic Alabama structures, Elizabeth organized a major clean-up of the park. On March 10, 2007 OSM employees Jeff Gillespie and Cynthia Edwards participated with the town’s mayor, city employees, one of the State Industrial Archeologist, students and members of the community and members of the Cahaba Rivers Society, to restore the area for the enjoyment of all.

The park will be a heritage park to reflect on our coal mining history, a cultural center for the Town of West Blocton, and a key component of the regional Cahaba tourism plan. These are some of the last remaining coke ovens at this time in the state of Alabama.