The Eric Sloane Museum in Kent presented an Iron Work Weekend Saturday-Sunday, May 24-25, 2025, on its property. It was the second time that smelting has taken place at the site since the furnace, first used in 1826, was closed in 1892. Above at top, iron smelter Eric Dennis, of Vermont manipulates a slab of iron as fellow smelters, clockwise, Ian McCarthy, of Danbury, Steve Mankowski, of Va., and Nick Tomlin, of R.I., take turns shaping it with their mallets. Photo by Deborah Rose
KENT, Conn. — A visit to the Eric Sloane Museum is a step back in time.
The museum features the studio and antique hand tool collection of Eric Sloane, an American landscape painter, illustrator, and author of illustrated books on the cultural history and folklore of America.
The property includes the Kent Iron Furnace, a granite blast furnace that produced pig iron for almost 70 years beginning in the 1820s.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25, the museum celebrates the community’s early and long history with the iron industry with a ironworks event.
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Master blacksmiths smelted iron with a bloomer furnace using traditional methods and techniques Saturday and forged tools from iron on Sunday.
It was the second time that smelting has taken place at the site since the furnace, first used in 1826, was closed in 1892.
Volunteer Tim Tedrick, of Illinois, explains the process of iron smelting to guests Lori Katzman, of Litchfield, left, and Susan Jurman, of New York, on their visit to the museum. Photo by Deborah RoseIron smelter Steve Mankowski, of Williamsburg, Va., left, chats with fellow iron smelter Nick Tomlin, of Providence, R.I., as they take a break from activities Sunday afternoon. Photo by Deborah RoseAt top, iron smelter Eric Dennis, of Vermont manipulates a slab of iron as fellow smelters, clockwise, Ian McCarthy, of Danbury, Steve Mankowski, of Va., and Nick Tomlin, of R.I., take turns shaping it with their mallets. Photo by Deborah Rose
Museum curator Andrew Rowand, left, shares how blacksmiths smelted iron with a bloomer furnace using traditional methods and techniques the day before. Photo by Deborah RoseThe weekend that celebrated iron works was the second time that smelting has taken place at the site since the furnace, first used in 1826, was closed in 1892. Photo by Deborah RoseSamples of tools made from iron are displayed on a table for the even’t attendees to view. Photo by Deborah Rose
Deborah Rose is a lifelong writer, photographer, poet and award-winning journalist. As assistant editor of the Kent Dispatch, she brings us more than 25 years in community journalism and, as a lifelong...
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