Sterling Ironworks Company.

Sterling Forge and Furnace Papers consist primarily of the records of the Sterling Ironworks which were situated in the Ramapo mountain range in southeastern New York, near the New Jersey border. The Sterling Ironworks was one of the oldest, largest and most productive of the ironworks that lay nestled in the Ramapo mountains, remaining in operation from 1736 until 1920. In 1736, Cornelius Board and Timothy Ward obtained 150 acres of the Sterling tract and proceeded to build a bloomery and forge, turning out the first iron made at Sterling. Four years later, Board sold his interest in Sterling to his partner, Timothy Ward. Following this transaction, the ownership of the ironworks seems to have been shared by a number of individuals. Among those mentioned as having an interest in Sterling at this time were Wm. Smith, James Burling, Wm Hawxhurst, and Abel Noble.

The 1760's saw a period of expansion at the ironworks with such products as pig and bar iron, cart, wagon and chair spindles, anchors, tea kettles, skillets, pots, refined iron, and potash being produced. Just who the actual owners were during this period of expansion is not clear. The first furnace at Sterling had been erected in 1751 and a year later, Abel Noble and his father, William had constructed a forge near the furnace and produced their first anchors in 1753. In October, 1758 Wm. Hawxhurst and Abel Noble signed articles of co-partnership regarding the manufacturing of iron at Sterling and most likely Noble and Hawxhurst had a financial interest in the company. It was also around this time that the first of the Townsend family became affiliated with the Sterling Ironworks. Although the exact date of Peter Townsend's association with Sterling is disputed by historians, a ledger page shows that by February 1768 he was in partnership with Abel Noble.

Despite complaints from Peter Townsend regarding the shortage of working men, Sterling remained a hub of activity during the American Revolution. The ironworks performed a valuable service by providing the Continental Army with arms and ammunition and supplying anchors of Navy waships. Sterling also had a more direct role in the war effort. In February, 1778 Peter Townsend agreed to produce an iron chain for the Continental Army. The chain was to be placed across the Hudson River at West Point and was to serve as a barrier to British vessels. The chain was laid in place on April 30, 1778 but remained untested as the British never did attempt to cross it.

In 1783 Peter Townsend died leaving his share of the ironworks to his wife Hannah (the daughter of Wm Hawxhurst) and to their two sons, Peter and Isaac. In 1797, Abel Noble, senior proprietor and part owner, sold his interest in the works to Peter Townsend II, thus, giving control of the ironworks, for the most part, to the Townsend family. The Townsends were joined in 1812 by Daniel and Wm. Jackson and Henry McCoun who erected a saw works at Sterling and who attained a part ownership in the ironworks as well. The Sterling Ironworks were granted rights of incorporation by the New York State Legislature on April 1, 1814 and shortly thereafter, Peter Townsend completed construction of a cannon foundry on the Sterling site. The first cannon were produced in 1817 but in spite of initial success, the foundry proved unprofitable and the federal government probably assumed control.

Little is known about Sterling from 1817 to 1825. It appears that legal difficulties or financial trouble hampered the ironworks as available records for this period deal with Southfield furnace rather than Sterling. The title of a pamphlet published at this time "Report of the Committee Appointed to Examine the Condition of the Sterling Iron Works" further hints at some sort of financial or legal tangle.

Business at Sterling continued as usual during the 1820's and 1840's and little of consequence occurred until 1856 when the Townsends decided to sell the ironworks. A nine page pamphlet entitled "A Map: showing the location of the Sterling Iron Estate, Orange County, New York" was published and submitted to prominent men in the iron industry. However, no buyer was found and it was not until 1864 that the Townsends were able to sell their iron estate. On April 1, with the aid of David Crawford, Jr., the son-in-law of Peter Townsend III, the property was sold to the Sterling Iron and Railway Co. which had been formed to assume control of the ironworks. Peter Townsend III had substantial interest in the company and he was joined by several prominent men including Thomas A. Scott, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and assistant Secretary of War during the Civil War, Jay Cooke, the financier, Joel Barlow Morehead, Samuel L.M. Barlow and George C. Clarke. November, 1867 a separate company, the Sterling Mountain Railway Co., was established for the purpose of managing the railroad branch of the company.

From the post Civil War period until 1890, there is a gap in the Sterling records and not much is known about the ironworks during this time. However, by 1890 it was evident that business had begun to falter and in 1892 there was a reorganization of the company. MacGrane Coxe was named president but in the depression of 1892-1896 led to a further decline and frequent change in the leadership of the company continued. James D. Rowland of Philadelphia succeeded Cox as president and he was followed by Theodore Price in 1905. H.A. Van Alstyne assumed leadership of the company in 1911 and continued in that capacity until 1920. There was a brief flurry of activity at Sterling during World War I but it ceased with the war's end and on July 1, 1923 the Sterling ironworks were closed. (For further information regarding the Ransom's Vanishing Ironworks of the Ramapos - The Story of the Forges, Furnaces and Mines of the New Jersey - New York Boarder Area upon which this account has been based. A detailed account of the forging of the chain across the Hudson is given by MacGrane Coxe in The Sterling Furnace and the West Point Chain, An Historical Address. See also Chapter IV of Ransom's Vanishing Ironworks of the Ramapos.).

From the description of Collection, 1740-1901. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122346556