Near Hope in Vinton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Life in Zaleski
Although a small village today, Zaleski was once was a booming town of 1,500 people. With 15 saloons, seven general stores, three churches, two doctors, two newspapers, a school, a Masonic lodge, two brickyards and a flour mill, it was the largest and most prosperous community in Vinton County during the height of the Hope Furnace. But life for most workers of the Hope Furnace was anything but prosperous. Most furnace employees lived in Hope, a company town of about 500 residents that sprung up around the furnace. Like many company towns of the era, the furnace provided housing and paid workers with script from the company store. Company store merchandise was overpriced and the script was worthless in other stores. While the ironmaster, storekeeper and company secretary lived well, most iron workers lived in small, dirt-floored log houses. The town of Hope was abandoned when Hope Furnace closed in 1874.
Erected 2005 by Make A Difference Day Ohio and Others.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Natural Resources • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.
Location. 39° 19.927′ N, 82° 20.423′ W. Marker is near Hope , Ohio, in Vinton County. Marker is adjacent to Hope Furnace, in the Zaleski State Forest, about 200 feet north of the state forest backpack trail parking lot on Ohio Route 278 and about 1.2 miles NE of the Lake Hope dam. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Plymouth OH 45654, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Hanging Rock Blast Furnace (here, next to this marker); From Forest to Furnace (here, next to this marker); The Furnace Legacy (here, next to this marker); Hope Furnace (here, next to this marker); The Hanging Rock Iron Region (here, next to this marker); Forest Of Honor (approx. 4.3 miles away); Lockheed T33 Shooting Star (approx. 5.3 miles away); Creola (approx. 6.7 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,200 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on January 22, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.