Old Furnace State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Furnace State Park |
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Marsh with reeds along Half Hill Brook on Old Furnace Trail
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 Old Furnace State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Killingly, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 367 acres (149 ha) |
| Elevation | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1918 |
| Named for | An old iron furnace |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Old Furnace State Park |
Old Furnace State Park is a cool outdoor spot in Killingly, Connecticut. It's right next to Ross Pond State Park. This park covers about 367 acres (about 148 hectares) and is a great place for hiking, hunting, and fishing. You can visit it all year round. It's named after an old iron furnace that used to be here a long time ago. The park became a town park in 1909 and then a state park in 1918.
Contents
Park History
Old Furnace State Park gets its name from an old iron furnace. This furnace made iron right here. It was working even before the American Revolutionary War. It kept going until the mid-1800s. By then, the local materials needed to make iron had run out.
Iron Production During the Revolution
During the Revolutionary War, this furnace was very important. It made iron that was turned into horseshoes. These horseshoes were then sold to the Continental Army. This helped the soldiers a lot. The furnace was one of many factories in New England. These factories were built near "fall lines." A fall line is where rivers drop quickly. This drop creates strong water flow. People used this water power to run machines. They powered things like mills for grinding grain and cutting wood. They also powered textile factories.
How the Furnace Worked
Over time, the land around Killingly changed. By the 1830s, a gristmill was working in what is now the park. The iron furnace was still running, along with a forge. A forge is a place where metal is heated and shaped. The furnace was like many others built in New England back then. All the materials they needed were found nearby.
Iron ore was dug up from swamps and muddy areas. Charcoal was made from the many trees in the local forests. Limestone and gabbro were used as "flux." Flux helps the iron melt better. Hot air was blown into the furnace's fires. This air was powered by large waterwheels. The iron ore would melt into liquid iron. This molten iron was used to make horseshoes. Later, it made metal parts for the many cotton mills in the Killingly area.
Park Establishment
William Pike was the last person to own the land where these industries were. He sold his property to the town of Killingly in 1909. The town then created a park called "Old Furnace." Later, in 1918, the town sold the land to the state of Connecticut. The park was quite small at first, only about 4.5 acres. It grew much bigger in 1964. That's when the "Ross Camp" area was added. Now, the park is 367 acres!
Park Ecology
Long ago, the old forests in Eastern Connecticut were cut down. The wood was used for charcoal and lumber. People built homes, factories, and businesses. Iron ore was dug from the ground. Land was also cleared for farming. But since the factories closed, the trees have grown back. You can hardly see any signs of the old industries now.
Plants and Habitats
The park has man-made ponds. These ponds are great homes for many kinds of wildlife. The old foundations and stone walls are now surrounded by new forests. These forests have both deciduous (trees that lose leaves) and coniferous (trees with needles) trees. You can see trees like Eastern hemlock, Pitch pine, eastern white pine, oak, beech, maple, birch, and hickory.
There are also several streams and wetlands in the park. Wetlands are areas where the land is often wet. These wet areas and ponds are perfect for plants like waterlilies, Skunk cabbage, and cattails.
Invasive Species Concerns
Some plants that are not native to the area are causing problems. These are called invasive species. For example, purple loosestrife and Phragmites are growing too much. They are taking over and pushing out the native plants. Biologists are working to manage these invasive plants.
Recreation
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Old Furnace State Park is open all year for fun activities. You can go hiking, hunting, fishing, and boating here.
Old Furnace Trail
A popular hiking trail starts at the parking lot near U.S. Route 6. It's called the Old Furnace Trail. This trail is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long. It's part of the "Blue-Blazed" trail system in Connecticut. The trail crosses Furnace Brook. It also goes past several man-made ponds. Then, it climbs up Half Hill, which is about 200 feet (61 meters) high. From the top of the cliff, you might even see parts of nearby Rhode Island!
