Coke ovens are used to produce coke from coal. The coal is heated up in the ovens, which removes most of the gases from the coal, thus turning it into coke. Coke is used as an industrial fuel because it burns with immense heat. Coke was a vital material used to produce iron in the furnaces.

In November, 1875, Thomas B. Bancroft and Charles I. Rader contracted Mr. Messrs to construct these ovens, with the intent to mass produce coke. Originally, there was 24 ovens total, each standing side by side in a row, or battery. A system of flues ran above, below, and around each oven, which greatly increased the interior temperature. A large building was constructed on the northern end to house the main steam engine and other machinery. A pushing engine ran upon a track next to the ovens. The iron doors on each oven were opened once the coke was ready. The engine then traveled down the track pushing a huge plunger through each oven. This forced the majority of the coke out onto the collection area. The workers would then use rakes to clean out the rest of the coke that was left inside. Reports indicate that they were able to unload and load the ovens in just 3 minutes.

Despite the high hopes and considerable amounts of money invested, These ovens didn't end up working well, due to the high sulfur content in the local coal. The coke that came out of these ovens produced a brittle grade of iron.