Boonton Iron Works facts for kids
The Boonton Iron Works was a big factory that made metal products a long time ago. It was started around 1770 by Samuel Ogden in Boonton, New Jersey. This factory was very important for making things like nails and strong iron bars.
The Story of Boonton Iron Works
How It All Started
Around 1770, a man named Samuel Ogden and his family bought a piece of land next to the Rockaway River in Boonton, New Jersey. This land was about 6 acres (2.4 hectares) big. Here, they built special mills. These mills were used to make long rods for nails and strong iron bars.
Growing Bigger
In 1830, the Morris Canal was built. This canal helped move goods and materials. Because of the canal, a new company called the New Jersey Iron Company was formed. This company built a brand new factory. It cost a lot of money, about $283,000 back then! They even brought in skilled workers from England to help.
From 1852 to 1876, the factory was run by a group called Fuller & Lord. During this time, the Boonton Iron Works became a very complete business. They owned everything they needed. This included places where they got iron ore and wood. They also had their own canal boats, furnaces, and other plants. This meant they could make iron products from start to finish.
The End of an Era
After 1881, the business slowly started to make less money. It became harder for the factory to keep going. Finally, in 1911, the Boonton Iron Works closed down for good. Today, you can still see some of the old ruins of this important factory.
