Cortlandt Furnace

A photo of the Cortlandt Furnace on Furnace Brook—though by the time this photo was taken it had long since ceased to be used as an iron furnace.

Here is an account of the furnace from Robert Bolton’s History of Westchester, published in 1848:

“In the vicinity of Boscobel house is situated the small hamlet and landing of Crugers, a name derived from the Cruger family, who have long possessed estates in the immediate neighborhood.

A small mountain stream enters the Hudson at this place called the Mill brook, upon which stood the manorial mills long since superseded by Ramsay’s mill. Above Crugers, crowning the bold banks of the mountain torrent, is situated the Cortlandt furnace which has given name to an extensive tract of forest (consisting of 1500 acres) called the furnace woods.

In the year 1760 a mining company was established in England, and German miners employed for the purpose of obtaining and smelting iron ore in this vicinity. It would appear, however, that the ore was not found here in sufficient abundance, for, at a vast expense, we find it subsequently transported from the Queensbury mine, in the forest of Dean, Rockland county, (by the route of King’s ferry) and smelted in this furnace.

But even in Rockland County the ore was not found in sufficient quantities to render it of any importance, so that prior to the Revolution the enterprise was wholly abandoned, and the property sold to Mr. John Ramsay whose daughter married John Cruger, father of Nicholas the present proprietor of the furnace woods. Mr. Benjamin Odell occupies the Ramsay residence and mill. The Cruger mansion is delightfully situated near the landing commanding from its elevated position, most extensive views of the river. The present occupant is the Hon. Nicholas Cruger who for several years represented this County in assembly.”

Here is additional information from the historic property listings the Westchester County Historical Society has compiled on their website. Sadly, they note that although the site is “archaeologically significant as site of eighteenth century iron furnace and a much later (19th-20th century) grist mill. . . . all buildings associated with either venture are now long gone.”