Johnson Steel became Lorain Steel in 1898. It then became U.S. Steel until 1904. From 1904 till 1986, it was called the National Tube Company, a divison of U.S. Steel. It wasn't the only steel plant in Lorain, though. In 1916, John C. Cromwell purchased land on the east side of the river, right across from National Tube. During World War I, there was lots of demand for steel, especially from the U.S. Government and its allies during the war. Cromwell Steel supplied steel to the allies, especially France. After the end of the war, the demand for steel went down and the plant went out of business.