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Iron Mine Brook is a small river that drains a part of southwest
Hanover. In early 18th century, iron was extracted here from
bogs, and processed to support the shipbuilding industries on the
South Shore.
Ironworks were located in rural areas in colonial times because of
the large amounts of wood required to fuel the furnaces. 4.5
acres of forest were cut & burned to produce 1 ton of iron.
Cannon & ship parts were produced in Hanover from this
iron. The anchor for the USS Constitution was forged here.
There was also nail & tack industries drawing from the
same iron supply. |
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After parking at the Hanover Canoe Launch, The first stage takes
you east, into a lowland forest near the junction of the brook and
the Indian Head river. From the first stage, you can see
mounds of soil, which may have resulted from scraping the bogs for
ore.
The second stage takes you around a modern water treatment
facility, which has no public access.
The third stage is at the brook once again; at an unusual centurys
old stone structure. Towards the final, the path follows the
brook to another ancient stone structure, where the brook forms a
pool near a small dam. It is the most attractive pastoral
scene on the walk.
The first 3 stages are 8 oz juice bottles; the final is a 5x7
lock-n-lock, filled with a variety of processed iron products.
The 1.8 mile round trip is located on the Luddam's Ford Pond
park. Be sure to visit two other geocaches in the area;
Hanover Canoe Launch Re-Visited by Joe1407on the hunt, and
Indian Head River Cache by Owdduck.