Old Furnace State Park

Old Furnace State Park is a publicly owned recreation area in the town of Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut in the United States. The state parks covers, sits at an elevation of, and is open year-round for hiking, hunting, and fishing. It is located east of Interstate 395, south of U.S. Route 6 and north of Connecticut Route 695. The park is the site of a former iron furnace. It was established as a town park in 1909 before being transferred to the state in 1918.HistoryOld Furnace State Park is named for an iron furnace that operated on the site from prior to the American Revolutionary War until the mid-19th century when the locally found natural resources to make the iron were depleted. During the Revolution the furnace produced iron that was converted into horseshoes that were sold to the Continental Army. The furnace was one of many industrial locations found at the fall line throughout the New England states. Industries grew in this area to harness the potential energy to power all sorts of machinery including gristmills, sawmills and textile factories.