East Canaan in North Canaan in Litchfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Salamander

Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011

1. Salamander Marker

Inscription. Salamander 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!

Erected 2002 by Friends of Beckley Furnace, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location.

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42° 0.66′ N, 73° 17.551′ W. Marker is in North Canaan, Connecticut, in Litchfield County. It is in East Canaan. Marker 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Birth of an Industry (here, next to this marker); What Is This Place? (a few steps from this marker); Casting Arch & Furnace Hearth (a few steps from this marker); Tuyere Arch (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Forbes (approx. 0.4 miles away); East Canaan Veterans Monument (approx. half a mile away); North Canaan (approx. 2 miles away); Joseph Deferari (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Canaan.

Also see . . . Friends of Beckley Furnace. (Submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Detail Photo on the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011

2. Detail Photo on the Marker

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.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011

3. Detail Photo on the Marker

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.

Marker with an Iron Salamander weighing 10-tons image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 15, 2011

4. Marker with an Iron Salamander weighing 10-tons

Marker with a 10-ton Iron Salamander image. Click for full size.

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 July 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 662 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 25, 2011, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.