Past could come alive at Beckley

NORTH CANAAN — An application for a grant for continuing work at the learning center at the Beckley Furnace site was approved by the Board of Selectmen April 7.The Friends of Beckley Furnace is seeking $128,000 in state STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) funding for systems updates, interior wall restoration, exterior siding and a new outside stairway at the former paymaster’s building at the historic monument site. The goal is to preserve the building, restore the vault to a historically accurate appearance and maximize it as an educational resource.It has been about two decades since many of the same members of the Friends group launched a preservation effort at the remains of the Beckley Blast Furnace along Lower Road. During the Great Iron Age here, when everything from nails to train wheels and cannons were produced, Beckley was one of a string of furnaces melting ore from mined rock. There were three along Lower Road alone, harnessing the power of the Blackberry River. The Beckley chimney was in the best shape, but crumbling fast. The effort meant not only raising about a quarter of a million dollars, but also convincing the state to approve the work. About 70 years ago, after the furnace was shut down, the Department of Environmental Protection (now the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) bought the property, but failed to do anything to preserve it. What it has becomeIn 1996, the preservation was completed under the local group’s guidance, and the furnace was capped to prevent damaging water infiltration. But the Friends were far from done.The work at the chimney included an archaeological dig, and efforts to uncover the past have continued between the furnace and the dam, where structures carried the water-powered blast of air to fan the furnace fires. Informational signs now explain fascinating relics restored and displayed around what has become a beautiful park for public enjoyment. In 2010, more than a million dollars was allocated by the state to restore the dam, now called the Industrial Monument Dam, and two turbines from the blast assembly were unearthed and restored.Under a master plan, and as funds and volunteer time permit, the former office building is being converted to an educational center. That includes restoring the walls of the paymaster’s vault and undoing work that converted the building into a private residence decades ago. There is a wealth of documents, photographs and other artifacts, some of which are on display at the office building. What was most recently a kitchen was converted to a classroom and theater. A historically accurate safe was moved into the vault (the original appears to have been lost forever). The living room became an exhibit space and a bedroom an office. A restroom was restored — and included the installation of a composting toilet.The study center has hosted groups from all over the world, including China, Egypt, Israel, South Africa, Sweden and India.What it could becomeA new heating and air conditioning system would keep it open year-round, and make it unnecessary for materials to be moved to winter storage.An electrical upgrade would allow for code compliance and more than two outlets in a room, and for track and other lighting that is desperately needed. It would support a more effective use of audio-visual equipment for programs. In the vault, the masonry walls were weakened by the earlier removal of a layer of bricks on the inside and by windows that were cut out to turn it into a bedroom. Some bricks are now missing. It is known that the vault originally had plastered walls, so a historic restoration will not require finding particular bricks. The space is currently used as a photo gallery.The grant application notes there is no asbestos in the building. Outside, electrical work would include installing outlets for maintenance work on the site.An exterior staircase, fashioned long ago from materials found on site, is the only access to the basement. It is unsafe and will need to be replaced so that the HVAC system can be serviced. Stucco siding is in rough shape and is beginning to separate from the underlying wall, allowing water to infiltrate. Siding is the most costly part of the project, estimated at $50,000. The electrical upgrade is estimated at $27,300, the HVAC system at $22,800, vault walls at $8,500 and the new stairs at $4,000. Waste management is budgeted for $3,400. A 12 percent contingency was added to the request.The application notes that this project cannot be done in phases, and will not be started until funding for all work is in place.