Richmond Furnace Historical and Archeological District
Richmond Furnace Historical and Archeological District | |
 A row of former worker housing on Route 41 | |
   | |
| Location | Richmond, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°21′21″N 73°22′32″W / 42.35583°N 73.37556°W |
| Built | 1763 |
| Architect | Bartram, I.N., & Co.; Richmond Iron Works Co. |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001044 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | August 31, 1999 |
Richmond Furnace Historical and Archeological District is a historic industrial district located on State, Cone Hill, and Furnace Roads in Richmond, Massachusetts. The industrial history of the site dates to 1763 when the first grist and sawmills were built. In 1829, the first stone furnace was constructed for the production of iron from abundant hematite ore found nearby. It was rebuilt in 1863, and overhauled in 1905 to increase capacity. The current structure measures approximately 33 feet tall by 9.5 feet wide at its base.[2] The company operated until 1923.[3] The historic district also includes several other houses and buildings related to the iron works. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Site history
In 1829, brothers John H., Charles and George Coffing established the Richmond Iron Works on the site. The Coffings has previously worked at the Salisbury Iron Works in nearby Connecticut. In 1834, a second furnace, 32 feet high x 9.5 feet wide was built at Van Deusenville, in nearby Great Barrington. By 1855, the company used 9,000 tons of ore to produce 3,200 tons of iron.[4]
The Van Deusenville furnace operated until 1896. It was dismantled in 1906. By 1908, the Richmond site had an annual capacity of 5,000 tons, and produced pig iron for car wheels and machinery.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ Directory of iron and steel works of the United States and Canada, American Iron and Steel Institute, 1908
- ^ RIW Historic Registration - Press Releases, 1999
- ^ History of western Massachusetts, S. Bowles and Company, 1855
- ^ Directory of iron and steel works of the United States and Canada, American Iron and Steel Institute, 1908
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