The section of Patriots’ Path from Furnace Rd. to Tanners Brook Rd. has special historical significance for us locally. Running through the site are the remains of the Chester Furnace which played a major role in New Jersey’s iron mining industry in the late 19th century – the trail also offers a scenic view of the Black River Wildlife Management Area.
The entire 50-acre site is managed collaboratively between the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Morris County Park Commission, with volunteer efforts being focused on improving the safety and accessibility of the many interesting aspects of the Furnace and nearby railroad lines. In case you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the site for a while, we’ll share a brief summary of recent improvements (the numbers that appear correspond to maps that are posted at the two kiosks – one at the Furnace Road trailhead, and the other further along the trail at the center of the Furnace operation).
The Patch House Foundations (#1a, #1b, #1c) – One of the first historic artifacts that a visitor encounters upon entering the trail from Furnace Road, are the two stone foundations that lie adjacent to the roadway. Originally providing housing for selected Furnace workers and their families, the open foundations invite a closer look. To reduce the possibility of unintended falls, both foundations have had safety railings installed.
A Path to the Cistern (#5) – Since many of the interesting remnants of the Furnace lie deep in the woods and are surrounded by thick vegetation and fallen trees, providing easy and safe access to these historic locations is a continuing focus of the trail volunteers. One of the remnants is the in-ground storage Cistern that held a reservoir of water which was in constant demand by the Furnace’s many steam engines. For the nearly 130 years since the Furnace ceased operation in the early 1890s, the 8-foot deep Cistern remained uncovered and a potential falling threat for anyone who lost their balance while looking over the edge. To make the Cistern safer and easier to visit, a safety lattice was installed, together with a new access path off the main trail.
A Path to the Limestone Pile (#12) – Limestone was a key ingredient for the Furnace’s production of pig iron, and a large pile of raw limestone was left in place when the Furnace ceased operation. To make the pile easier to inspect, a walking path was cleared and a sample piece of limestone was added to the on-site informational placard.
The Lake Takene Train Station (#14a/b and #15) – The April 2015 CHS newsletter relates the sad tale of the Lake Takene resort community that was planned in 1919, but never fully realized. To enable prospective purchasers to get to and from the site via the New Jersey Central rail line, a train station was built near the Furnace site. The surviving rock and concrete foundation supports have been excavated, and the surrounding area cleared so that visitors can get a better look.
View informational trail signage here.
Read more about the history of the Chester Furnace here.