Franconia in Grafton County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Stone Iron Furnace
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
1. Stone Iron Furnace Marker
Due west stands New Hampshire's sole-surviving example of a post-Revolutionary furnace for smelting local iron ore. The industry flourished during first half of 19th century. It produced pig and bar iron for farm tools and cast iron ware, including famous "Franconia Stoves".
Erected by New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 009.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the New Hampshire Historical Highway Markers series lists.
Location. 44° 13.808′ N, 71° 45.268′ W. Marker is in Franconia, New Hampshire, in Grafton County. It is on Main Street (New Hampshire Route 116) 0.1 miles south of Sugar Hill Road ( Route 117), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located across the street from the Lafayette Regional School. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franconia NH 03580, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1889 Iron Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Iron Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Franconia (within shouting distance of this marker); Abbie Greenleaf Library
this page online
More about this marker. The furnace itself, on private property across the Gale River, can be seen from the Interpretive Center. It is the only such furnace still standing in NH.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Besaw Iron Furnace Interpretive Center
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
2. Wideview of Stone Iron Furnace Marker
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
3. Stone Iron Furnace
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
4. Stone Iron Furnace
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 21, 2006
5. Stone Iron Furnace (close view)
Photographed by Kevin Craft, September 25, 2014
6. Iron Bridge
The Berlin Iron Bridge Co.
East Berlin Conn.
H.W. Priest
W.M.H. Brooks
Ira Whipple
Selectmen
1889
Interpretive panel reads:
Iron Bridge
This wrought iron bridge is a rare surviving example of the pin-connected lenticular truss design used for iron bridges from 1880 to 1890. The Dow Bridge, a mile southeast of here on Main Street, is of the same rare design. It has been restored for modern use.
This bridge spanned the Ham Branch at the end of Delage Farm Road in Franconia from 1889 to 2001. It was built by the Berlin Bridge Company (Connecticut) to carry horse-drawn wagons over a narrow river to serve the Delage Farm.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 1,375 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on April 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 14, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. 5. submitted on March 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on October 14, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
