South Oakland in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Jones and Laughlin
J&L began as a family business and the principal partners trained their sons and brothers to take over executive positions. Jones based the management on "Vertical Combination"-the concept of owning raw materials, fuel, transportation, and other requirements needed to create a finished product. J&L owned iron ore mines near Lake Michigan, coal mines in Washington and Greene Counties, a Blair County limestone company, and drilled natural gas wells to supply the mill. The company established docks on Lake Erie and owned hundreds of barges.
On January 1, 1900, J&L made a momentous decision to shift exclusively to the fabrication of products made from steel. Although the Eliza blast furnaces continued to smelt iron used to make the steel, J&L no longer made iron products.
At its peak in the 20th century, J&L employed 30,000 workers and occupied over seven miles of riverfront. For more than a century, J&L's smoke stacks, furnaces, rolling mills, coke ovens and factory buildings lined both sides of the river.
Erected by PA DCNR, Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, City of PIttsburgh, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1900.
Location. 40° 25.577′ N, 79° 57.229′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in South Oakland. Marker can be reached from Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Marker is located on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15213, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Eliza Furnace (here, next to this marker); Iron and Steel Workers (here, next to this marker); Hazelwood: A Rivertown Rich in History (approx. 0.3 miles away); Materials Handling (approx. half a mile away); The MonCon Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Open Hearth Steel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rivers of Steel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cast Iron Columns (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.
Also see . . .
1. Friends of the Riverfront - Three Rivers Heritage Trail. (Submitted on December 9, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
2. Benjamin Franklin Jones at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on December 9, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
3. James H. Laughlin at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on December 9, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 9, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.