East Canaan in North Canaan in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Salamander
Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument
This 10-ton chunk of iron formed in the hearth area of the furnace. While there are a number of things that can cause the formation of a salamander this one was probably due to a failure in the masonry of the hearth which allowed molten iron to break through the side of the crucible. The deterioration of the firebricks from the heat and pressure of the molten iron is a possible cause. When this happened it caused a costly shut down so that the hearth could be rebuilt.
A salamander could also form on the side of the furnace stack if the ore and limestone were not properly loaded. In this case the salamander could clog one or more of the tuyeres and put the fire out by preventing air from getting into the furnace.
Since a salamander is a single large piece, it must be pulled out of the furnace in one piece as you see it here. Try to imagine doing the job with muscle power alone as it was done here. The combined efforts of a large force of men and oxen were probably required for the job. We do not know how often these failures occurred, but at least 13 salamanders like this one have been discovered at this site!
[Captions:]
This picture shows a salamander that formed on the side of the furnace stack in another furnace. The chain passes through the hole where this salamander surrounded a tuyere in that furnace.
This salamander formed on the bottom of another furnace. Note the clear imprint of the fire bricks that formed the bottom of the hearth in that furnace.
Erected 2002
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 42° 0.66′ N, 73° 17.551′ W. Marker is in North Canaan in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut. It is in East Canaan. It can be reached from the intersection of Lower Road and Furnace Hill Road, on the left when traveling west. Located at Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 140 Lower Rd, East Canaan CT 06024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Connecticut’s Berkshire Foothills and in the Litchfield Hills. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Litchfield County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument (here, next to this marker);
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011
2. Salamander Marker
This is a photo of the marker from before the QR code sticker was affixed.
Also see . . . Friends of Beckley Furnace. (Submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011
4. Marker with an Iron Salamander weighing 10-tons
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011
5. Marker with a 10-ton Iron Salamander
Behind the marker is the information kiosk and the furnace
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 872 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 3. submitted on June 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5. submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
