This book investigates the long-term industrial ecology of ironmaking in northwestern Connecticut and the subsequent transformation of the region from an industrial hub to a pastoral landscape. Robert B. Gordon, an expert in the history of technology and materials science, utilizes historical records and environmental data to analyze how human decision-making regarding renewable energy resources shaped the physical environment over two centuries. The work provides a framework for understanding the interplay between technological advancement, resource management, and cultural shifts in rural American settings.

Scholars and historians of technology frequently cite this work as a definitive study on the intersection of industrial development and environmental change in New England. Readers often note the academic rigor and the clarity with which the author connects local history to broader themes of industrial ecology.