Charcoal in the 19th Century

Monday, November 16, 2026

6:30 p.m. • Simsbury Public Library

Join us for a fascinating look at the history of charcoal production and mining in Simsbury and the surrounding region and the important role these industries played in Connecticut’s development.

From the mid-1700s through the early 20th century, charcoal was in great demand throughout northwestern Connecticut. Made from the region’s abundant forests, charcoal provided fuel for blacksmithing, iron making and other industries, including brass and gunpowder production.

Evidence of this history can still be found in the landscape today. Numerous charcoal hearth sites are located along Simsbury’s western ridgeline and in the surrounding area, including on Simsbury Land Trust’s Westledge properties and at McLean Game Refuge. These sites offer a glimpse into the people who worked these woodlands and the industries that once depended upon them.

The program will also explore the region’s mining history and its connection to Connecticut’s iron industry.

Speaker Mike Weber is a 1982 geosciences graduate of Penn State who draws upon a 36-year career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Geological Survey. His book, Always More Production, chronicles the region’s mining history through photographs, historical documents and records from the Cornwall Ore Bank Co. and Bethlehem Steel Corp. archives. Now retired from federal service, Weber serves as a guide and researcher at Cornwall Furnace, where he shares the history of Connecticut’s iron and mining industries with visitors.