Near Millerton in Dutchess County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Iron Mine Pond
Taconic State Park
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 17, 2019
1. Iron Mine Pond Marker
People have mined iron in the Taconic region since the late 1700s. The first iron furnace with a steam-powered bellows was built on this site in 1847. Caleb Maltby purchased the mine in 1861 and the Maltby Iron Company produced a high grade of iron used exclusively for making railroad wheels.
According to legend, Caleb Maltby, an ardent Republican, closed the mine in 1884 because a Democrat, Grover Cleveland, was elected president. The Thomas Iron Company continued to work the mine , but not the furnace, until 1893. After the mine closed, the ore bed filled with groundwater; it is now known as Iron Mine Pond.
How Maltby's Furnace Worked
To convert the raw ore into iron required large quantities of charcoal. The charcoal was supplied by “colliers” from local pits. The furnace was filled with a layer of charcoal, a layer of limestone, and a layer of iron ore. The limestone acted as a purifying agent in the process. After the mixture was ignited, the layers settled and more charcoal, limestone, and iron were added. Molten iron was then drawn off and cast into iron ingots.
[Captions:]
Once abandoned, the Maltby Iron Company buildings fell into disrepair, as shown by this 1916 photograph. Eventually, they collapsed, and all that remains is a pile of rubble.
At first, Maltby’s Iron Works obtained hardwood charcoal from local pits. As these sources were exhausted, the charcoal was brought in by rail from further away. This photograph shows Maltby’s Iron Works charcoal kilns in Berlin, New York, which operated in the 1870s and 1880s.
The Maltby Iron Company used pumps to keep water from filling in the ore bed. Once iron production ceased in 1893, the ore bed filled with water, and an ice house and ice elevator were built. Ice was harvested on Iron Mine Pond using similar methods to those shown in this historic photograph from nearby Rudd Pond.
From 1861-1884, the Maltby Iron Company’s mine and furnace produced an average of 100 tons of iron per week. Several dozen men worked for the company, alternating 12-hour shifts to keep the furnace in producton eight or nine months a year.
Key:
1.Maltby’s Furnace
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2. The Top House where coal, limestone, and crushed iron ore were dumped into the top of the furnace.
3. The Casting House where molten iron drawn from the bottom of the furnace was cast.
4. The Crusher House where limestone was broken down and used to purify the iron ore.
5. The Charcoal Shed where the charcoal used in the furnace was stored.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #22 and #24 Grover Cleveland series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 41° 58.712′ N, 73° 30.219′ W. Marker is near Millerton, New York, in Dutchess County. It is on Rudd Drive when traveling south. Marker is in Taconic State Park/Rudd Pond at the end of the road just before camping section. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 58 Rudd Dr, Millerton NY 12546, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York and in the Hudson Valley. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 17, 2019
2. View of Rudd Pond from the Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rudd Pond (approx. 0.4 miles away); Spencer's Corners (approx. 1.1 miles away); Irondale School (approx. 1.1 miles away); Town of North East War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Irondale Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away); Pine Plains Northeast Line (approx. 2.8 miles away); North East Center Burying Ground (approx. 3.7 miles away); In Memory of Robert Scoville, M.A. (approx. 4.1 miles away in Connecticut). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Millerton.
Regarding Iron Mine Pond. I am not exactly sure where Iron Mine Pond is. It isn't visible from the marker nor is it labeled on any maps (including the Spencer's Corners topo quadrant).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 2,152 times since then and 168 times this year. Last updated on October 22, 2026, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
