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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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Sterling Furnace.-This is on the outlet of Sterling Pond, and the oldest iron works in the county, having been in operation near 100 years. We believe they were established by a London Company, of which Lord Sterling of New Jersey was a member, and sold them the land, and hence the name.

The pond is in Monroe, but the outlet soon runs into Warwick, and therefore it is that the furnace department is in that and the anchor in the town of Warwick. There are 20,000 acres of land attached to this and Southfield works, which supply them with iron and coal. They are owned by the Messrs. Townsends. At the early establishment of this furnace the charcoal used was transported several miles on the backs of horses from the mountains where it was burned, there being no roads at the time. The furnace was first erected by Ward and Cohen in 1751, the forge in 1752, by Abel Noble of Pennsylvania. The first anchor made in the State was manufactured here in 1753. Steel was first made herein 1776 by the late Peter Townsend, the grand father of young Peter Townsend. In 1810, his son Peter Townsend, made blister steel. After Fort Montgomery was taken and the chain which was passed across the river there, broken by the English ships which then ascended the river and burnt Kingston, the government still thinking that the river could be obstructed by a chain, sent Mr. Pickering, then Secretary of War, to consult Mr. Townsend on the subject. When matters were agreed upon, they left Greycoat on Sunday in the midst of a violent snow storm, to go to New Windsor, and from there to West Point, to inspect the locality and fix the points from which, and to which, the chain was to be extended. The links were made of bar iron, near two inches square, each weighing from 140 to 150 pounds. The whole chain weighed 186 tons, and was made and delivered in six weeks. The fires of the furnace were not extinguished in that time. The iron was made of equal parts of Sterling and Long mine ores. The chain was made in pieces thus, ten links were fastened together in the usual manner at the forge, and the eleventh link left open at one end like an ox bow, with holes through the ends for a bolt to unite that link with the next one. These composed one load, which was taken to New Windsor by oxen and carts, and transported thence to the Point. The carts used came from Connecticut. The chain while being put together, was supported by a frame work of timber to keep it afloat. The English never afterwards during the war ascended the river, and the chain was taken up in the fall of 1783, being unbroken and in good order. A few links were lost in the operation of removal. Some of them are still preserved, and may be seen at the Point. It was stretched from the north side of the Point on the west side, to Constitution Island on the east side of the river. Mr. Townsend deserved great credit for his skill and expedition in the fabrication of this chain. We shall have occasion to revert to this subject again.

The Townsend family of this county is quite ancient.--William, Thomas, John, Henry, Richard and Robert, supposed to be brothers, were in the vicinity of Boston before 1637, emigrants from England.

The family here are the descendents of Peter Townsend, a son of the 4th Henry Townsend, who lived at Chester, and the proprietor of the celebrated Iron works and estate at Sterling. The family came here from Long Island, but at what time we are not informed. His children were Peter, William, Isaac, Anne and Sarah. Sarah married Dr. Davis of Chester.

Capt. Solomon Townsend, a cousin of Peter Townsend, and who married his daughter Anne in 1783, purchased the mountain estate adjoining that of his father-in-law, which he named Augusta, and established the Iron Works, anchory, forges, &c. at the place. He resided in New York, where he owned a large iron store. He established a manufactory of bar iron at Riverhead, Suffolk county. His operations were extensive, and it was said, he lost $70,000 by the Embargo of 1808. He died March 27, 1811.

Southfield--Is on the outlet of Mount Basha, or Mombasha Pond, which enters the Ramapo, and one mile north of Monroe Works. This establishment was erected by Messrs. William and Peter Townsend in 1805-6, to make pig iron, and is in operation under the direction of the same owners.

Augusta Works.--These are a mile or two south of the Saw factory, on the Ramapo, and were established in about 1783-4, by Solomon Townsend of the city of New York, to make bar iron and anchors. They are not now in operation, as they belong to Peter Lorilard of the city of New York, who is too overgrown with wealth to put them in active and profitable motion. There is said to be 13,000 acres of land, principally covered with wood, attached to these works.--The Hydraulic power is second only to Patterson, N. J., and is thought to be equal to that at Walden, in this county. At this point the Ramapo has received all her tributaries in this county, and there is a perpendicular fall of 20 feet, while within half a mile below, there is a continuous descent of 75 feet more.

Greenwood Furnace.-This is in the central part of the town, on the outlet of Slaughter's Pond, near the Ramapo. It was originally called Orange Furnace, and established in 1811-12 by the Messrs. Cunningham, to make pig iron. It is now owned by Mr. R. P. Parrot, and in operation. The name was from the deep rich verdure of the surrounding forests.

Queensborough Furnace.-This is in the north east angle of the town, at the junction of Queensborough and Forest of Dean Creeks, two and a half miles south west from Fort Montgomery. It was erected to make pig iron, but has not been in operation for forty years. Mr. Gridley of Newburgh, superintended the works for some years. The name was from the patent on which it stood.