COPAKE FALLS, NEW YORK


THE FURNACE at the Copake Iron Works, the ruins of which can be seen in the photograph to the right, was constructed in 1845 by Lemuel Pomeroy and his sons. Lemuel was from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The remains of this furnace are now part of the Taconic State Park and can be found adjacent to the park managers home near the bottom of High Valley Road.

Four critical ingrediants were needed to establish an iron works in the mid eighteen-hundreds, all were abundantly available at this site in Copake Falls. Quality iron ore, limestone for flux, an abundant source of hardwood for charcoal, and sufficient water power to drive the bellows for the furnace. The Iron Works were located on the Bash Bish Creek, which supplied the power for the furnace, and later the forge that was developed. There were extensive beds of first quality iron ore surrounding it. Some of the best, but cold, swimming in the area is at the "Ore Pit' in the Taconic State Park. The limestone came from a quarry, not far distant, in what is now the hamlet of Copake. The hardwood was harvested in the mountains above the iron works at High Valley Farm and one can still see evidence of the "charcoal pits" where the wood was converted into charcoal.

The miners, who supplied the iron ore for the furnace, originally lived in crude dwellings, many of which were made of rough bark, and contained no more than one room. It is reported that the maximum wage was 70 cents a day at that time. It is also reported that the iron works manufactured about 2,500 tons of blast iron each year. The iron was used to manufacture car wheels. Later axles, gun barrels, plowshares and bar iron were made.

In 1862 the iron works was sold to Frederick Miles.

this is one of the places i love to go to every year with my family and my in laws. This coming year we will be there for a week and all my husbands family will be there the girls that are 11 year old twins my twins 10 and my 2 boys and all the rest of the family i can not wait it will be fun..It is just so nice to be there and just listen to the stream at night. we walk up to the falls and have so much family time it is really cool. well the kids had basketball today lost the games both. had a good day and i hope you did to....