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Monday December 31, 2001

Morris Canal & Iron Works

Boonton's Link to the Past

Photos by

Joe Gigli

Boonton - The Town of Boonton as we know it today did not exist until the New Jersey Iron Company built a new company town to support its iron works on the Morris Canal. A walking tour led by Joe Macasek and Bierce Riley, industrial archaeologists was held on March 31, 2001 starting at the Boonton Historical Society on Main Street, participants viewed the iron works' sites and the remains of two anthracite iron furnaces, and walked along the water filled canal and the back streets of Boonton to see some of its unusual architecture.   

Boonton - (top left) Looking out the arch ways of an old trestle that supported a rail bed at the iron works. (top right) A sign for the Boonton Historical Society and Museum at 210 Main Street, the museum is open on Saturdays, with a large collection of photos maps and information on Boonton's history. (above left) Kevin Perry, of Jefferson Township uses a magnet to examine the "slag" (waste produced after smelting iron) for chunks of iron.

Walking Tour Of Boonton's

Iron Works And Morris Canal

Boonton - Explore the rich heritage of iron mining and related industries in Morris County and the New Jersey Highlands through a series of popular walking tours and programs presented by The Morris County Park Commission and the Mt. Hope Historical Conservancy.   These organizations work in partnership to preserve and interpret the industrial history and landscapes of Morris County. Boonton, Rockaway, Dover and Wharton all began as iron making centers, each with its own unique story to tell.  These towns have changed since their iron-making days, but today their roots are still visible to the trained eye. Participants in these urban archaeology walks will delve into the historic fabric, visit the places and hear the stories of the people that shaped these communities into the towns we know today

Boonton - (above left) A view looking up Plane Street,  which was the site of Inclined Plane 7 East. (above right) Michael Koval, of Boonton and Sydney Turko, of Rockaway; look for artifacts around the site of an old blast furnace. (below) The walking tour led by Joe Macasek and Bierce Riley, walk the towpath along North Main St.

Photos by Joe Gigli

Boonton - (left) The walking tour looks over the remains of an iron furnace base. (above) Scott Shepherd, of Morristown takes a photo of the Boonton Falls. (lower left) The hands of Kevin Perry, of Jefferson Township; uses the magnet to test for iron during his research. (below) Bierce Riley, shows off the pods from a Empress Tree. The trees were brought in from China and planted on the grounds of the Iron Works.

Boonton - (left) Jaclyn Turko, of Rockaway; had more interest in her snack then the tour. (above) Stone archways that supported a rail bed are still intact, on the ground were the Iron Works once stood. (lower left) Bierce Riley, works with Chad Turko, of Rockaway; Michael Koval, of Boonton; and Sydney Koval, of Boonton; on identifying pods from Empress Trees, that were brought in from China. (below right) The group gathers at  the Boonton Falls overlook on Main Street.

Boonton - (left) The walking tour led by Joe Macasek and Bierce Riley,  walk the towpath along North Main St.. (below) S. David Phraner, of Montville; and Robert Stephens, of Dover; compare the landmarks with some tun of the century post cards.

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