In 1854, this iron furnace was constructed by Mr. Messrs for Westfall, Dungan, and Stewart. Originally, it was called the Cincinnati Furnace. In 1856, those 3 men officially founded the Cincinnati Furnace Company. J.B. Royer was the first manager.

By 1870, Richard Long and J.H. Smith had leased this iron furnace from the company. I believe they purchased it a short time later and formed the Richland Furnace Company. By 1875, it was officially called the Richland Furnace. At this point, I. Lord was the president, William F. Ruggles was the Manager, and Alvin Manning was the iron master. In 1882, this iron furnace blew out and had to be repaired.

The iron manufactured here was hauled a short distance up the hill and then shipped on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. Cincinnati Furnace, later Richland Furnace, had it's own station and tunnel. In 1859, a brakeman on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad was killed nearby. His tragic accident was similar to the one that occurred at Moonville. It is often mistakenly associated with the Moonville Tunnel.