A photo of the Cortlandt Furnace on Furnace Brook—though by the time this photo was taken it had long since ceased to be used as an iron furnace. Here is an account of the furnace from Robert Bolton’s History of Westchester, published in 1848: “In

the vicinity of Boscobel house is situated the small hamlet and landing of Crugers, a name derived from the Cruger family, who have long possessed estates in the immediate neighborhood. A small mountain stream enters the Hudson at this place called

the Mill brook, upon which stood the manorial mills long since superseded by Ramsay’s mill. Above Crugers, crowning the bold banks of the mountain torrent, is situated the Cortlandt furnace which has given name to an extensive tract of forest

(consisting of 1500 acres) called the furnace woods. In the year 1760 a mining company was established in England, and German miners employed for the purpose of obtaining and smelting iron ore in this vicinity. It would appear, however, that the ore

was not found here in sufficient abundance, for, at a vast expense, we find it subsequently transported from the Queensbury mine, in the forest of Dean, Rockland county, (by the route of King’s ferry) and smelted in this furnace. But even in Rockland

County the ore was not found in sufficient quantities to render it of any importance, so that prior to the Revolution the enterprise was wholly abandoned, and the property sold to Mr. John Ramsay whose daughter married John Cruger, father of Nicholas

the present proprietor of the furnace woods. Mr. Benjamin Odell occupies the Ramsay residence and mill. The Cruger mansion is delightfully situated near the landing commanding from its elevated position, most extensive views of the river. The present

occupant is the Hon. Nicholas Cruger who for several years represented this County in assembly.” Here is additional information from the historic property listings the Westchester County Historical Society has compiled on their website . Sadly, they

note that although the site is “archaeologically significant as site of eighteenth century iron furnace and a much later (19th-20th century) grist mill. . . . all buildings associated with either venture are now long gone.” Property Cortlandt Furnace

Municipality Cortlandt Community Street Number Street Address Off Furnace Dock Road Historic District Name Local Landmark Status? Yes 05/21/92 Local Landmark District Status? National Register District Status? County Register Status? National

Register Status? National Historic Landmark Status? National Historic Landmark District Status? State Register Status? Eligible for National Register? Owner Mario Velardo Institutional Owner Mario Development Corp Tax Map Available? Tax Map Image

Available? Tax Section Tax Block Tax Lot Architect unknown Builder unknown Building Type Industrial: iron furnace and mill complex Building Type, Details Architectural Style NA Architectural Style, Details Current Use Current Use, Details woodlands

Original Use Original Use, Details iron furnace; later grist mill (1860s-) Structural Condition Deteriorated Neighborhood Residential Threats to Building Possible development of property Site Integrity Original Site Date Moved Year Built c.1765-1766

Structural System NA Structural System, Details Photograph Available? Yes Alterations NA, all buildings gone Date of Alterations Significance Archaeologically significant as site of eighteenth century iron furnace and a much later (19th-20th century)

grist mill. However, all buildings associated with either venture are now long gone. Description Cortlandt furnace was one of many iron extraction and founding ventures established in Westchester County during the 18th and 19th centuries. Located

just off Furnace Brook Road in the Town of Cortlandt, it was situated on the present Furnace Brook which was damed to provide water for the manufactory. The furnace was built, c. 1765-1766, by Peter Hasenclever, a German iron master. The site was

considered good as it lay within a half mile of the Hudson River, allowing easy shipment of the product. However, the iron ore proved inadequate, and the furnace was shut down sometime before the Revolutionary War. Before 1800 a grist mill was

located on the site, its buildings apparently built, at least in part, of stones scavanged from the furnace ruins. This business also was gone by 1879, and the area now is wooded and overgrown with only foundation stones and walls to mark the

location of the furnace and mill. For further information see files maintained by the Westchester County Historical Society. Share this: Print (Opens in new window) Print Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens

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2012 February 17, 2013