Quincy in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace
A National Register of Historic Places Site
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
1. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Marker - ASM Plaque
has been designated an
Historical Landmark by
American Society for Metals.
In 1644, John Winthrop Jr. built the first commercial blast iron furnace in America at Quincy, Massachusetts, where it produced iron from bog ore dug from the bottom of brooks and swamps.
Erected 1980 by American Society for Metals.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1644.
Location. 42° 14.753′ N, 71° 1.623′ W. Marker is in Quincy, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It is on Crescent Street west of Cross Street, on the right when traveling west. Entrance is through the adjacent cemetery (Hall Cemetery) just past the remains of the furnace. Furnace is alongside a waterway called Furnace Brook. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 61 Crescent Street, Quincy MA 02169, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston and specifically in Greater Boston. It is also in the
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Solomon Willard Gravesite (within shouting distance of this marker); John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace / Solomon Willard (within shouting distance of this marker); Solomon Willard (within shouting distance of this marker); Granite Railway Incline (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Granite Railway (approx. half a mile away); Old House (approx. 1.1 miles away); John Adams (approx. 1.2 miles away); Burns (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quincy.
More about this marker. Two markers at this location. The plaque installed by the American Society for Metals is installed on the furnace remains. A wooden marker with additional historical information subtitled as provided by the National Register of Historic Places.
Regarding John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace. These
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
2. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace
Under the direction of John Winthrop, Jr. - future governor of Connecticut and a participant in the early years of the Scientific Revolution - a coordinated enterprise established an iron industry in the young Massachusetts Colony. The furnace here smelted iron found in the immediate area. A giant pair of bellows were operated by a water wheel that generated power from the brook that runs through the site, still called Furnace Brook. The furnace operated until 1647.
The enterprise had later sites in what is now the town of Braintree and in Saugus. Saugus Iron Works maintains a full sized replica of a similar operation with active demonstrations).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Saugus Iron Works in the town of Saugus, Massachusetts
Also see . . .
1. Historic place of the week: Quincy's Furnace (Boston Harbor Beacon). (Submitted on December 17, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
2. Historic Place of the week: Quincy's Furnace Brook (Boston Harbor Beacon).
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
3. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Marker
A National Register of Historic Places Site
You may have driven down Quincys Furnace Brook Parkway, but what you may not know is that it is named for the countrys first iron blast furnace, which was built in 1644. . . . . . .The furnace brook was a place near which settlement took place as it provided access to good herring fishing. The nearby Adams house, home to two American Presidents, was built on the banks of this brook in 1720, as was the Dorothy Quincy House, which lies directly on the banks of the brook as well.(Submitted on December 17, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
3. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Site (Wikipedia).
John Winthrop the Younger wanted to establish an iron works in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He believed that because the colonies had a cheap and abundant supply of raw materials, an iron works in Massachusetts could produce goods that could be sold profitably in the New England and Chesapeake Colonies as well as in England.(Submitted on December 17, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
Additional keywords. smelting
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
4. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 18, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
