A Connecticut State Archaeological Preserve

Charcoal production was an important industry in
northwestern Connecticut in the nineteenth century.
Before Pennsylvania coal became readily available, the
iron forges in Litchfield County were reliant upon locally
produced charcoal as their primary fuel. The low rise
in front of you is one of the four charcoal kilns seen at the
Lighthouse Village. Look closely and you will observe a
circular trench or "gutter" that encompasses the mound.
This trench serves as a fire break.
Cordwood was stacked into a mound. Then, in a slow
and controlled burn, the moisture was released from the
wood, leaving a much lighter and more valuable, higher
quality fuel.
Charcoal production was a difficult, dirty, and dangerous
pursuit. The kiln had to be tended to by the "collier"
whose job it was to maintain the slow burn, and, at all
costs, to prevent the valuable wood from being lost in
an uncontrolled blaze. Lighthouse residents may have
served as the colliers for these kilns.
If you look carefully around the kiln, you should be able
to find three more encircled mounds. These are the remnants
of the long-forgotten charcoal industry in northwestern Connecticut.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:    |  X Región  |  Chile

Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Stone Quarry
Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Cellar Holes
Late Eighteenth Century Sundial
Quinton Stockwell/ Abigail Bullard Stockwell
Music Vale Seminary
Ledyard
Life on the Canal
Boothroyd House
77th Infantry Division Reserve Veterans Memorial, a War Memorial
Peter Cooper Park

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.