5/19/2023 - History of Charcoal Hearths at Bent of the River While hiking along the trails at Bent of the River property, hikers occasionally come across large raised circular mounds that appear odd and out of place. These 40-foot wide circles are the remains of charcoal hearths on which colliers burned logs to create charcoal used to power Connecticut's iron, steel, and brass industries in the nineteenth century. At that time, Connecticut's forests would have looked far different after hills were stripped of trees and wood piled to make charcoal. Colliers would arrange the cut wood into particular patterns up to fifteen feet tall, cover the logs with leaves and dirt, and then set fire to the mound so that the wood would bake. After ten to fourteen days, the resultant charcoal was raked out, cooled, and transported by ox carts along charcoal roads to industrial buyers. The remains of at least 23 old charcoal hearths have recently been located on the Bent of the River preserve. Each hearth has small remnants of 100 – 150-year-old charcoal. Join Pete and Barb for a PowerPoint in the barn on Friday night and/or join them for a hike on Saturday. PowerPoint Program, Friday, May 19th from 6 to 7:30 Charcoal Hike, Saturday, May 20th from 9:30 to 11:30 This program is by registration only. ### Event: A History of Charcoal Hearths at Bent of the River with Pete and Barb Rzasa Event Date: 5/19/2023 (presentation), 5/20/2023 (hike) Event Time: 6:00 PM (presentation); 9:30 AM (hike) Admission Fee: $10.00/$15.00 or $20.00 Registration Deadline: 5/18/2023 Registration Instructions: bentoftheriver.audubon.org/events/history-charcoal-hearths-bent-river-pete-and-barb-rzasa Event Organizers: Bent of the River Audubon Center | 203-405-9113 | kpratt@audubon.org | bentoftheriver.audubon.org | www.facebook.com/bentoftheriver Event Location: 185 East Flat Hill Rd. Southbury, CT 06488 Archives
While hiking along the trails at Bent of the River property, hikers occasionally come across large raised circular mounds that appear odd and out of place. These 40-foot wide circles are the remains of charcoal hearths on which colliers burned logs to create charcoal used to power Connecticut's iron, steel, and brass industries in the nineteenth century. At that time, Connecticut's forests would have looked far different after hills were stripped of trees and wood piled to make charcoal. Colliers would arrange the cut wood into particular patterns up to fifteen feet tall, cover the logs with leaves and dirt, and then set fire to the mound so that the wood would bake. After ten to fourteen days, the resultant charcoal was raked out, cooled, and transported by ox carts along charcoal roads to industrial buyers.
The remains of at least 23 old charcoal hearths have recently been located on the Bent of the River preserve. Each hearth has small remnants of 100 – 150-year-old charcoal.
Join Pete and Barb for a PowerPoint in the barn on Friday night and/or join them for a hike on Saturday.
PowerPoint Program, Friday, May 19th from 6 to 7:30 Charcoal Hike, Saturday, May 20th from 9:30 to 11:30
This program is by registration only.
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Event: A History of Charcoal Hearths at Bent of the River with Pete and Barb Rzasa Event Date: 5/19/2023 (presentation), 5/20/2023 (hike) Event Time: 6:00 PM (presentation); 9:30 AM (hike) Admission Fee: $10.00/$15.00 or $20.00 Registration Deadline: 5/18/2023 Registration Instructions: bentoftheriver.audubon.org/events/history-charcoal-hearths-bent-river-pete-and-barb-rzasa Event Organizers: Bent of the River Audubon Center | 203-405-9113 | kpratt@audubon.org | bentoftheriver.audubon.org | www.facebook.com/bentoftheriver Event Location: 185 East Flat Hill Rd. Southbury, CT 06488