East Jordan Iron Works

East Jordan Iron Works has been a member of the City of East Jordan and Charlevoix County community since 1883. The foundry was established by William E. Malpass and his father-in-law, Richard W. Round on November 8, 1883, and is situated on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix. The City of East Jordan was a center of lumbering operations. Railroads had not yet penetrated this region, and eleven sawmills and the Pine Lake Iron company were dependent on the water for transportation. Timbers were floated to the mills, and as many as fourteen lumber schooners could be seen loading simultaneously at the East Jordan docks. Lumber from this area was instrumental in rebuilding the City of Chicago after the famous fire of 1879. This activity created a demand for the EJIW foundry and machine shop operation. The foundry was built in 1883 by William E. Malpass. His brother James, a journeyman machinist, immigrated from England and built the machine shop two years later.

The closing of the lumber mills and decline of lake shipping in the 1920's challenged the foundry to find new products to manufacture. In 1928, the machine shop was enlarged and the production of street castings, fire hydrants and water works valves began.