Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument

Driving along scenic and quiet Lower Road in North Canaan, people might come across a large stone smokestack and a dam alongside the Blackberry River. They'll most likely wonder what that place is. Fortunately, an informational sign next to it explains the history and significance of this seemingly out-of-place site. 

The Beckley Iron Furnace was built in 1847 and remained in operation until the winter of 1918-1919. It was the last blast furnace to close in New England, and for over 70 years, it produced vast quantities of pig iron to be refined into steel. Blast furnaces like this one were crucial to the iron industry, which helped transform the region into a manufacturing hub at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. As the decades passed, the facility modernized to meet the demands of an ever-changing world but was unable to compete with larger iron production facilities across the country. 

After it closed, the area was converted into a 12-acre state park in 1946. The stack, along with the dam, was repaired and restored in 1999 and 2010 respectively. Today, the park is a picturesque area offering visitors a space for picnicking, hiking, and fishing. There are also numerous informational signs and artifacts throughout the park, allowing visitors to learn more about the historic iron industry which once dominated New England.