The McIntyre Iron Works Furnace, located in the Adirondack Mountains near Tahawus, New York, can be found using the following GPS coordinates: N 44° 04.735, W 074° 03.394. This historic site, situated off Upper Works Road, on the west bank of the Hudson River, was an ambitious nineteenth-century industrial venture that ultimately ceased operations due to inefficiencies and flooding after only two years of production. Despite its short-lived operational history, the furnace stands as a testament to the ingenuity and challenges faced by early American industrialists.
The McIntyre Iron Works, also known as the McIntyre Blast Furnace, was constructed in the mid-1800s and was among the most technologically advanced charcoal-burning furnaces of its time. It is part of the ghost town of Adirondac, which later became known as Tahawus.
When I first visited the McIntyre Iron Works Furnace many years ago, the town was still standing, albeit in ruins. Now, things are changing; New York State is constructing a visitors center, and the furnace is now within protective fences.
Is this endeavor driven by a genuine commitment to progress and preservation, or merely by a commercialist mindset? I’m not entirely certain.
August 2024
The plants growing out of the gaps in the stone really show nature’s resilience and persistence, and how nothing we create really lasts. Maybe it’s too cliche but I look at the remains and think of a line from Shelley: “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!”
Good one! lol Yes, I agree that Mother Nature is persistent and resourceful! Sadly, this visit to the abandoned village made me never want to return. They leveled all of the old buildings and built a fence around where they stood as well. Thankfully, I have pictures from back then. 🙂