John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Site
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Quincy, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1644 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000192 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 1977 |
The John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Site is a really old place in Quincy, Massachusetts. It's where the very first iron blast furnace in what is now the United States was built! This important historical spot is sometimes called the Braintree Furnace. That's because the area where it was built used to be part of Braintree, Massachusetts, before it became Quincy.
A nearby stream, called Furnace Brook, even got its name from this old iron works. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history.
Contents
History of the First Iron Furnace
In the 1600s, iron was super important. People needed it for many things. They used iron to make nails, tools, cooking pots, and even weapons. But in the early days of the American colonies, there were no factories to make iron.
This meant all iron goods had to be brought over from England. The trip across the ocean took at least two months. Because of this, iron items were very expensive for the colonists.
John Winthrop Jr.'s Big Idea
John Winthrop the Younger had a great idea. He wanted to build an iron factory in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He thought the colonies had lots of raw materials like iron ore. This meant they could make iron goods much cheaper.
He believed they could sell these goods in New England, the Chesapeake Colonies, and even back in England. In 1639, Winthrop sailed to England to get money for his plan. He found a group called the Company of Undertakers for the Iron Workes in New England. They agreed to help pay for the project.
Building the Braintree Furnace
Winthrop chose Braintree as the best place for the first iron furnace. Construction started in 1644 and finished in 1645. On October 15, 1645, Winthrop got a special deal. The Massachusetts General Court said his company wouldn't have to pay taxes. They also got a 21-year monopoly on making iron. This meant only they could make iron in the colony for 21 years.
Why the Furnace Closed Down
Sadly, the Braintree iron furnace didn't work out. There wasn't enough iron ore nearby. Also, there wasn't enough water to power the machines. The furnace closed down in 1647. This happened not long after another iron works, the Saugus Iron Works, was finished.
Where the Workers Went Next
Even though the Braintree furnace failed, its workers were skilled. Many of them went on to start iron works in other places. In the 1650s, James Leonard helped start the Taunton Iron Works in Taunton, Massachusetts.
His brother, Henry Leonard, worked at Saugus for a bit. Then he started a new iron works in Rowley in 1668. Later, he moved to New Jersey with his sons. There, they built several more iron factories. Another iron expert, Ralph Russell, moved to Dartmouth. He set up a forge there, which became known as Russells Mills.
