The Beckley Iron Furnace Industrial Monument holds the remains of an iron-making furnace, technology no longer used in Connecticut since making railroad cartwheels in its heyday. This park boasts the historical markers of the imposing white furnace, old pipes, and the last vestiges of machinery and iron carts.
On the natural end, shaded hiking trails run along the Blackberry River that cuts through the land, and produces unique bubbling sounds. Views of historic dams along the river make this site even more picturesque.
The Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument is featured in a publication by Ed Kirby entitled Echoes of Iron in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner (Including a Guide to the Iron Heritage Trail). The publication is for sale and may be purchased from the Sharon Historical Society.
Ironmaking had been a local industry that for 150 years shaped the formation of America. The Beckley blast furnace was built in 1847 and ceased operation in 1919. It produced iron primarily for the manufacture of railroad car wheels that gained a worldwide reputation for their excellence and durability. The Furnace was a part of an industry that shaped both the cultural and ecological future of the entire region. The recently refurbished structure stands as the best-preserved example of technology that has long since vanished. In 1946, Beckley Furnace was designated as a state park.
This park is managed by the following CT DEEP Park Headquarters:
The Monument is located 600 feet west of the intersection of Furnace Hill Road and Lower Road in the East Canaan section of the Town of North Canaan.
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