Oxford Furnace

A Brief History: The Oxford Furnace is located at 35 Washington Avenue in Oxford New Jersey and is known to be the first hot blast furnace in the United States. This particular type of furnace is known for having an apparatus that pre-heats the air as it blows into the blast furnace. It was built in 1741 by Jonathan Robeson and Joseph Shippen Jr. The furnace was known for producing pig iron and fireplace fire backs embossed with the royal-coat-of-arms during the reign of King George II. The furnace was built on the site of an iron mine, which provided generous resources. In 1813 a gristmill was built next to the furnace, which was later converted into the Oxford Colonial Methodist Church in 1909. Ownership of the furnace changed hands frequently throughout the course of its operation.

Haunted History: Although there is no hard evidence that the Oxford Furnace is haunted, paranormal activity could still be possible at this location. Many of the Shippen family members passed during ownership of the Oxford Furnace, including one family member who fell from a railroad car in 1887. Since there were so many deaths in quick succession, one of which was traumatic, it is very possible that the members of the Shippen family frequent the Oxford Furnace since it’s a place that was familiar to them.