Ringwood Manor
Encyclopedia
Ringwood Manor was home to a number of well-known ironmasters from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolution
, Robert Erskine
managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood
, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor General
, producing maps for the Continental Army
; Washington visited the Manor House several times. Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain
, and for tools and hardware for the army. Martin J. Ryerson purchased the historic ironworks and began building the present Manor House in 1807 while still operating the iron mines and forges on the property. Ryerson ran 5 forge-furnace complexes in three counties from his headquarters at Ringwood for the next half century. Ryerson made shot for the war of 1812 and negotiated land and water rights with the Morris Canal Company for expansion of Long Pond (Greenwood Lake) and construction of the Pompton Feeder on the Morris Canal. The Ryerson Steel Company is still in operation today. New York's Peter Cooper, a remarkable inventor and industrialist and his young son-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, purchased Ringwood in 1854. One of the Manor's last owners was Abram S. Hewitt, ironmaster, educator, lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and mayor of New York City.
A 479 acres (193.8 ha) area including the manor house was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1966. The Ringwood Manor NHL area is the entire 479 acre Ringwood Manor State Park.
The Ringwood Manor State Park is now part of a larger Ringwood State Park
that includes Skylands Manor
and a recreational area. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Hewitt, New Jersey
, off Route 23.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, Robert Erskine
Robert Erskine
Colonel Robert Erskine was a Scottish inventor and later an American officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood
Ringwood, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density is 491.0 people per square mile . There are 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile...
, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor General
Surveyor General
The Surveyor General is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Originally this would often have been a military appointment, but is now more likely to be a civilian post....
, producing maps for the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
; Washington visited the Manor House several times. Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain
Hudson River Chain
The Hudson River Chain may refer to any of several chains used as a blockade across the Hudson River intended to prevent British naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War.-The Great Chain :...
, and for tools and hardware for the army. Martin J. Ryerson purchased the historic ironworks and began building the present Manor House in 1807 while still operating the iron mines and forges on the property. Ryerson ran 5 forge-furnace complexes in three counties from his headquarters at Ringwood for the next half century. Ryerson made shot for the war of 1812 and negotiated land and water rights with the Morris Canal Company for expansion of Long Pond (Greenwood Lake) and construction of the Pompton Feeder on the Morris Canal. The Ryerson Steel Company is still in operation today. New York's Peter Cooper, a remarkable inventor and industrialist and his young son-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, purchased Ringwood in 1854. One of the Manor's last owners was Abram S. Hewitt, ironmaster, educator, lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and mayor of New York City.
A 479 acres (193.8 ha) area including the manor house was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1966. The Ringwood Manor NHL area is the entire 479 acre Ringwood Manor State Park.
The Ringwood Manor State Park is now part of a larger Ringwood State Park
Ringwood State Park
Ringwood State Park is a 5000 acre state park in Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey, USA. The Park is located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains in Ringwood. It contains the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands, historic Ringwood Manor and Skylands Manor, and the Shepherd Lake...
that includes Skylands Manor
Skylands
Skylands 1,119 acres , also known as the New Jersey Botanical Garden, is a mansion and botanical garden in Ringwood State Park in the borough of Ringwood, located within the Ramapo Mountains in Passaic County in the state of New Jersey, United States...
and a recreational area. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Hewitt, New Jersey
Hewitt, New Jersey
Hewitt is an unincorporated area within West Milford in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07421. It is named after Abram S. Hewitt....
, off Route 23.
See also
- Ringwood State ParkRingwood State ParkRingwood State Park is a 5000 acre state park in Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey, USA. The Park is located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains in Ringwood. It contains the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands, historic Ringwood Manor and Skylands Manor, and the Shepherd Lake...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Passaic County, New Jersey
- List of museums in New Jersey