Quincy in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace
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Solomon Willard
A National Register of Historic Places Site
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
1. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace / Solomon Willard Marker
These are the remains of the earliest iron smelting furnace in America, constructed in 1644 and in operation by spring, 1645. Under the direction of John Winthrop, Jr. - future governor of Connecticut and a participant in the early years of Scientific Revolution - a coordinated enterprise established an iron industry in the young Massachusetts Colony. The enterprise had later site in what is now the town of Braintree and in Saugus. 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 book that runs through the site, still called Furnace Brook. The furnace operated until 1647. Above: Artist's concept based on archeological evidence depicts the iron furnace in operation.
Solomon Willard
Solomon Willard designed and supervised construction of the Bunker Hill Monument, made of Quincy granite. Begun in 1825, the monument was dedicated in 1843. Through the cemetery entrance to the left and a few feet up on the right-hand side of the path is the grave of Solomon Willard (1783-1861) - architect, master artisan, builder of the Bunker Hill
this page online
Erected 1977 by Quincy Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1644.
Location. 42° 14.738′ N, 71° 1.627′ W. Marker is in Quincy, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It is at the intersection of Crescent Street and Cross Street, on the right when traveling west on Crescent Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 61 Crescent Street Quincy MA 02169, 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 American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere,
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, August 17, 2025
2. John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace / Solomon Willard Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Solomon Willard Gravesite (a few steps from this marker); John Winthrop Jr. Iron Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Solomon Willard (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 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.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Solomon Willard (1783-1861) gravesite. The the Solomon Willard burial site in Hall Place Cemetery, Quincy, Massachusetts. (Submitted on August 21, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
2. Historic Place of the week: Quincy's Furnace Brook (Boston Harbor Beacon).
First published in the Boston Harbor Beacon June 22, 2013(Submitted on December 17, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)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.
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.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 55 times this year. Last updated on May 2, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2025, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
