
The Washington Headquarters in Morristown had one of these “pig” forges. The Hibernia Furnace had a high reputation and supplied many of the forges in Morris county. The Hibernia Furnace was known for its production of Pig Iron. Iron Producing Furnaces The Hibernia Furnace These men were needed to mine the iron and produce the equipment needed for battle. Even though there was a desperate need for soldiers in the Continental Army, the New Jersey Legislature adopted a resolution on October 7, 1777, exempting fifty men at Mount Hope and twenty-five men a Hibernia from entering the military service. The forges and furnaces at Hibernia and Mount Hope furnished the Continental Army with shovels, axes, cannon, cannon balls, grapeshot and other supplies. The Split Rock Furnace, the only one still standing, is located below the dam of the Split Rock Reservoir.

Three blast furnaces were located in Hibernia, Mount Hope and Split Rock. Rockaway Township has a great number of forges. By 1740, forges were operating along the Rockaway River, close to the ore, waterpower, and thick forests, which supplied huge amounts of charcoal to the works.īy 1776, Morris County was the principle smelting center of the United States. This forge was later known as the Stephen Jackson Forge. In 1730, an early forge was constructed by Job Allen in Rockaway Village (land now known as Rockaway Boro). The contribution of the iron industry assisted in the cause for independence from England prior to the American Revolution. Rockaway was the first district in America to actively work and mine iron ore. In Marcella, crude utensils and arrowheads have been discovered. The Lenni Lenape Indians showed settlers “succasunna” or “black stone.” References to the Lenni Lenapes are referred to in old deeds and land titles. The Rockaway Township area was known for its iron. Rockaway is based on the Indian word, “Rechouwakie,” meaning, “the place of sands.” Also, in 1715, the earliest land grants in the area were recorded between William Penn and the Delaware Tribe of Indians, which were known as the Lenni Lenapes or “original people.” In 1750, the Lenni Lenapes disappeared from Morris County, but left many well-defined trails and paths, which led from one lake to another. It was these Dutch settlers who gave Rockaway its name. In 1715, the Dutch settlers came to the lower or eastern part of the Township. The 2010 census indicated that 22,098 people live in Rockaway Township. Within thirty years, the population has doubled. In 1994, the Township celebrated its sesquicentennial, 150 years, and Rockaway Boro celebrated its centennial, 100 years. In addition to including the area that is now Rockaway Township, it also included what is today Rockaway Boro (incorporated in 1894) and Denville (incorporated in 1913). It was in this year, 1844, that Rockaway Township was formed. In the year 1844, Morris County divided some of its larger townships. You can find the latest statistics about Rockaway Township on American FactFinder from the US Census. In the southern part of the Township are the newer developments of Fleetwood, Birchwood, and Mount Pleasant. Close to Route 80 are the communities of White Meadow Lake and Mount Hope. On the north there is Green Pond, Lake Telemark, Marcella and Hibernia.

The Township has many smaller communities within its borders. Rockaway Township is 11.6 miles long and 5.2 miles wide, with an area of 45.3 square miles. The township can be reached via Route 80 at exits at 37 (Hibernia) and 35a and 35b (Mount Hope). Rockaway Township is a municipality located in Morris County in northwest New Jersey.
