Riverton in Barkhamsted in Litchfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

The Charcoal Industry

Photographed By Alan M. Perrie, October 8, 2019

1. The Charcoal Industry Marker

Inscription. Imagine Northwest Connecticut completely bare of trees. In 30-40 year cycles, from the 1700s to the 1920s, entire hillsides of young trees were cut and cleared. This wood was made into charcoal, the preferred fuel of Connecticut’s brick, iron and brass foundries. Charcoal burned hotter and cleaner than wood making purer metals and less smoke. A small, typical iron furnace converting ore to pig iron consumed all the charcoal made from one acre of woodland each day. At least 150 acres of timber converted to charcoal were needed every year to produce 1,000 tons of pig iron.

Connecticut foundries forged cannons and hardware that supported both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Erected 2019 by FALPS (Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forest) and Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary.

Location. 41° 55.553′ N, 72° 59.836′ W. Marker is in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, in Litchfield County. It is in Riverton. The marker is located on the Blue Trail 0.1 miles north of the Nature Museum on Greenwoods

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Road, in Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted CT 06063. It is also a 0.3 mile walk from the Barkhamsted Historical Society on 100 East River Road, Barkhamsted CT 06063. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Barkhamsted CT 06063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Demonstration Charcoal Mound (here, next to this marker); Squire's Tavern (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Austin Hawes Memorial Campground (approx. 0.7 miles away); Camp White (approx. 1.1 miles away); Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Cellar Holes (approx. 1.2 miles away); Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Grind Stone (approx. 1.2 miles away); Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Stone Quarry (approx. 1.2 miles away); Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barkhamsted.

Also see . . .
1. Connecticut State Archaeology. (Submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
2. Connecticut Public Radio. (Submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation. (Submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
4. Peoples State Forest Nature Museum. (Submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)

A demo of building a charcoal mound. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alan M. Perrie, October 8, 2019

2. A demo of building a charcoal mound.

The Peoples State Forest Nature Museum, built by the CCC in 1935, is next to the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alan M. Perrie, October 8, 2019

3. The Peoples State Forest Nature Museum, built by the CCC in 1935, is next to the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.