Johnna Kaplan
Industrial Past, Scenic Present
Once upon a time, practically everything anyone could want was made in Connecticut. In the northwest hills - now better known for genteel inns, sweet small towns, and green fields - is the state’s only official monument to that industrial past.
The Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument is what remains of one of the many large blast furnaces that once dotted this area. It was used to produce pig iron, primarily for railroad car wheels. If that sounds boring, ugly, or not worth the trek to North Canaan, don’t worry: this spot is both fascinating and scenic, a testament to human hard work as well as nature’s beauty.
The massive stone structure, restored in 1996, looks almost medieval. Beside it, the Blackberry River, spanned by a wooden footbridge, rushes over a dam and across the rocks. On summer Saturdays, visitors can take a guided tour and learn about Connecticut’s iron-manufacturing history. At other times, they can rest at picnic tables by the water, enjoy the scenery, and feel very small beside the tower of stones.
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