Added in the fall of 1888, the Ore Roaster helped reduce the sulfur content of lower grade ore, greatly reducing smelting time when the processed ore was placed in the furnace and producing better quality iron. Charged with alternate layers of charcoal and iron ore, it was fired for 24 hours, and at the end of roasting the ore was removed from the bottom. The clay-lined Ore Roaster was 10 feet 8 inches in diameter and was designed to reduce impurities such as sulfur, phosphorous, and oxides from low grade iron ore.