The outbreak of the Civil War awakened the industrial power of the Northern States. The Cooper & Hewitt Iron Company built the “Gun Metal Furnace” on the Wanaque River in 1862 to supply iron for the manufacture of rifles and other ordnance for the Union Army. A second furnace was completed by 1863. Though later converted to burning coal, these furnaces closed in 1882. Abram S. Hewitt directed production. The Hewitt’s summer home at Ringwood Manor was headquarters to all of Long Pond’s ironmasters.
