The History Center’s fall exhibit, Forging a New Nation: Morris County’s Iron Industry, is now on view in the Library’s second floor F.M. Kirby Gallery. Iron manufacturing in northwestern New Jersey dates back to the early 1700s when colonial settlers ventured west from Newark in search of valuable minerals. They began extracting iron deposits and processing the ore in small forges. During the Revolutionary War, these forges supplied the Continental Army with shot, shells, and tools.
As demand for New Jersey’s high-grade magnetite grew throughout the 19th century, ironmaking facilities expanded and acquired improved equipment and skilled work forces. The towns of Rockaway, Dover, Mine Hill, and Boonton all enjoyed healthy iron industries through the early 20th century. Company owners made lasting contributions to Mount Hope and Boonton Falls by building churches, schools, and housing to attract workers.
The legacy of North Jersey’s ironmaking past remains with us today. The modern town of Boonton was founded after the ironworks relocated uphill to take advantage of resources provided by the Morris Canal. Thousands of acres of nature preserve occupy land that once buzzed with mining activity. And the complex web of underground tunnels created by hundreds of years of mineral extraction expose today’s residents and business owners to the risk of sinkholes. Forging a New Nation will remain on view until January 2027.