Hawley is one of the smallest towns in Massachusetts and with a population less than 400 people, many lifelong residents of the state may not even be aware of it. However, within this very rural and quiet community, lies a very unique structure and artifact hidden in the woods. Something you rarely see throughout the area, but one which carries with it a very profound message.
In 1870, William O. Bassett, the most successful farmer living in Hawley at the time, hired Albert Dyer of Plainfield, MA to build a stone kiln for him to produce charcoal. In the 19th century, charcoal was a very valuable and profitable industrial commodity which could be used for fuel, medical applications, and ingredients for fertilizer and gunpowder. However, the process of making charcoal itself in large …
Hawley is one of the smallest towns in Massachusetts and with a population less than 400 people, many lifelong residents of the state may not even be aware of it. However, within this very rural and quiet community, lies a very unique structure and artifact hidden in the woods. Something you rarely see throughout the area, but one which carries with it a very profound message.
In 1870, William O. Bassett, the most successful farmer living in Hawley at the time, hired Albert Dyer of Plainfield, MA to build a stone kiln for him to produce charcoal. In the 19th century, charcoal was a very valuable and profitable industrial commodity which could be used for fuel, medical applications, and ingredients for fertilizer and gunpowder. However, the process of making charcoal itself in large numbers was long and labor intensive. Hundreds of acres of hardwood forests would have to be cut down leaving behind a barren and desolate landscape. The Hawley kiln, sometimes referred to as a “beehive kiln” due to its shape, stood 25 feet high, 25 feet in diameter, and could burn 35 cords of wood at a time. One cord of wood can produce around 30 bushels and one bushel of charcoal in 1880 cost about 10 cents. The kiln could produce up to 750 bushels making the final product very profitable.
For decades, the kiln produced thousands of bushels of charcoal but by the end of the 19th century, things began to change as less expensive methods of producing it became more readily available. However, perhaps the biggest factor was the hardwood forests needed to supply the kiln had been completely depleted. After nearly 30 years of operation, the kiln shut down and was abandoned around 1900. After decades of deforestation, it would take decades more for the natural area to slowly recover. The Hawley State Forest was established in 1923 and in 1957, the kiln and the surrounding area was added to the property. Since being shuttered, the kiln served as a storage facility, a location to house livestock, and underwent significant restoration in 1993 and 2011. Today the property is owned and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation.
The Hawley kiln is not only a rare historically preserved artifact, but also an important reminder about the necessity of land conservation and sustainability. For around three decades, the owners and operators of the kiln cut down hundreds of acres of forest to produce charcoal with little to no care about the long-term ramifications. Once the area had been stripped of the wood they wanted, the kiln was simply abandoned and shut down. Fortunately, the forests of Hawley were able to recover but that’s not always the case for other environments around the world negatively impacted by human activity. Preserving natural resources is not only crucial for sustaining businesses and industries, but also environmental wellbeing it can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The kiln is certainly worth taking a look if you’re interested.