The Eureka Iron Company
operated a rolling mill and iron works in Wyandotte from 1855 until it
closed in 1892. It was here that America’s first Bessemer steel was
made under the leadership of William Durfee and Eber Ward.
Photos
Bacon Memorial District Library
Eureka Iron Company rolling mill and iron works
Eureka Iron Company rolling mill and iron works
Eureka Iron Company rolling mill and iron works
This engraving of the Eureka Iron Company shows the layout of the
property’s many buildings.
The Wyandotte Iron Works was located along the Detroit River; a
convenient location for bringing in supplies.
This cauldron was used at the Eureka Iron Company to make steel. Once
the iron was made into steel, the pot is tilted and the molten steel
poured into forms.
Eber Ward began paying employees with vouchers in 1873 in an effort to
keep business afloat during tough economic times. Most stores in
Wyandotte and Detroit accepted the script which promised 7 percent
interest in six months.
