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The Mount Hope Mine has a long and fascinating history dating back to about 1710. The mine worked eleven distinct orebodies achieving a total production by its final close in 1978 of about 6,000,000 tons of ore. Prior to 1749, the ore was available for anyone to take. The earliest workings were at the Jugular vein which once outcropped 100 feet in height forming a big cliff.
In 1772, noted ironmaster John Jacob Faesch secured control of the Mount Hope property and erected the Mount Hope Furnace. The furnace taking its ore from the mine was essential for the efforts of the Continental Army. Mount Hope ore was used in the production of shot and ordnance. The furnace itself ran almost continuously for 50 years. In 1831, the Mount Hope Mining Company was incorporated and was granted rights to construct a gravity railroad to the Morris Canal for transportation of the ore.
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