The Lakeville-Ironworks Trail

The Lakeville-Ironworks Trail is now officially open!

Site updating in progress.

The Highlands province of NY, NJ, PA and CT was one of the principal sources of iron ore for the colonies beginning in about 1730 and lasting through the early republic and the Civil War. Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut there were hundreds of iron mines, providing ore and wrought iron to supply the American forces during the Revolution, and the early railroad industry.

At Sterling Lake, many of the structures used to mine iron from the bedrock are still standing and in good condition. The remains include a restored furnace and a stone cable house. They are easily accessible from the nearby parking areas, and students can easily walk from the exhibits in the Visitor's Center to the remains of the structures, which are just a mile away.

HEnRI has recently received a grant from the Dorr foundation to create an educational trail centered on the mining operations at Sterling Lake. Working with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, we will build the trail, develop educational signage and displays, create supporting educational materials for school groups, and design a web site.

As we progress with this project, more details will be made available.