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Home > Vermont > Quarry Links and Photographs
(From the web site) “Located within an authentic turn-of-the-century granite manufacturing plant, the museum’s mission is to create stimulating, interactive environments for learning about the geology, technology, history, and art of Vermont’s unique granite heritage art, industry, capabilities and cultural heritage….”
You might also enjoy viewing Leslie’s Bartlett’s photographs of the Cape Ann, Massachusetts, quarries in the “Chapters on a Quarry Wall” installation at the Cape Ann Historical Museum presented on his web site. More of Leslie’s quarry photographs are available in the “Below the Keystone Bridge: Images From a Rockport Quarry.”
(From the web site) “Barre Sculpture Studios was established in 1985 as a sculptural service to the monument industry. We produced figurative works for monument retailers, churches and civic organizations throughout the Northeast US.”
“The city of Barre lies about 5 miles southeast of Montpelier…and the Barre quarries are 3 miles farther southeast, near the southeast corner of the township of Barre, and a few of them are in Williamstown, in Orange county, which adjoins Barre on the south. The city of Barre lies on Stephens Brook, a tributary of the Winooski, which empties into Lake Champlain.…”
“Barre granite is known commercially as “dark Barre,” “medium Barre,” and “light Barre,” with some exceptional “very dark Barre” and “white Barre.”
“The various shade and color designations of this granite are due in part to the different degree of kaolinization and micacization of its orthoclase feldspar, causing it to range from a translucent bluish gray to milk-white, and in part also to the varying content of black mica. Technically its colors are here defined as (1) very light gray (Wheaton quarry, abandoned), equivalent to that of North Jay, Maine; (2) light inclining to medium, slightly bluish gray (Jones light quarry), between that of North Jay and of Hallowell, Maine; (3) light medium bluish gray (Smith upper quarry), between that of Hallowell, Maine, and Concord, N. H.; (4) medium bluish gray (Duffee quarry), a trifle darker than “Concord granite”; (5) dark inclining to medium bluish gray (Bruce quarry); (6) dark bluish gray (Marr & Gordon quarry); (7) very dark bluish gray (Marr & Gordon quarry knots), equivalent to “dark Quincy.” The chief product consists of (3), (4) and (5). The dark shades occur near the Williamstown line, the light near the top of Millstone Hill on its south and southwest sides, and also about three-fifths of a mile south-southwest of the top. The cause of this distribution is not evident.”
“Barre in The ‘Nineties,” by William Barclay, son of the first William Barclay, founder of the pioneer firm of Barclay Brothers, in Monumental News Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 12, December, 1939, pp. 548-550.
“Editor’s Note: Knowing ‘Bill’ Barclay of today, son of the first William Barclay, founder of the Pioneer firm of Barclay Brothers, it is difficult to believe that his personal reminiscences could cover this early period, but it must be remembered that ‘Bill,’ like other sons of illustrious Barre Fathers started young. ‘Bill’ after the entrance of Barclay Brothers into the Rock of Ages Merger, served for some time in an executive capacity in the new corporation, resigning some two years ago to take over the management of Novelli & Calcagni, whose original founders, Mr. Novelli and Mr. Corti, were one time employees of ‘Bill’s’ Father. Needless to say we feel greatly indebted to ‘Bill’ for this interesting story.
“To look fifty years ahead seems a long, long time - much more so than looking back over that same period. But such an era of progress it has been in our granite industry - from mostly hand labor to machinery and specialization. Emerging from the centuries of little or no advancement in the quarrying and cutting of granite to its present high development.
(Photo caption, pp. 548) Barclay Brothers in 1889. The late William Barclay, Sr., in center of picture (with burnsides). Wm. Barclay, Jr., the author of this article, second row, second from right.
“The year 1889 was the turning point in transporting rough granite from the quarries on Millstone Hill down to the manufacturing plants in Barre, descending a thousand feet in fully three miles. (Millstone Hill is so named from pioneer days when the thin outcropping ledges furnished ideal material for the grinding stones required in the numerous grist mills throughout this part of the country.)
“In that year the Barre Railroad - then called ‘The Sky Route’ - the steepest broad gauge line east of the Rockies began its service with special heavy duty locomotives and large capacity cars.
Quarry
“Handing drilling was the order of the day. It was fascinating to watch the drilling of a large hole - one man sitting and turning the steel while two strikers stood and tellingly swung their heavy sledges - all knowing that one false blow might result in a shattered arm. The introduction of steam drilling followed by the general use of compressed air made possible the important operation known as channeling - a system of drilling a line of detached holes, then broaching (pulverizing) the connections so as to form a continuous cut or channel. Much otherwise wasteful blasting is thus eliminated and the finer grades of stock conserved.
“The boom derricks, utilizing oxen or horses for hoisting and man power for pulling the loads around, were being supplanted by those actuated by steam - leading to our modern structures capable of lifting blocks weighing scores of tons.
“In the late 80’s coverings were erected over some of the quarry openings during the winter months. Extended development, however, eliminated the possibility of continuing that so, for many years, they have been completely open to the elements.
“At one time, there were over twenty-five quarrying firms - too many for successful results.
Teaming
“The horse transportation from quarries to plants was a real problem during our busiest period - in springtime when the frost (often several feet deep) was coming out and making certain portions of the ‘quarry road’ regular quagmires. Four, six and eight horse teams - about a score of them owned and operated by men who did nothing else - performed this service. Two trips daily was the usual program. During those mud times the first team to arrive at a bad section would wait until several others had assembled then all the horses would be hitched together and pull the load through. The first few loads would thus go right along - the later teams continuing to double up until all were on terra firma again. Sometimes, though, when the road seemed bottomless a heavy load would retard progress for hours.
“There was little difficulty during the other seasons and it is astonishing the mammoth blocks of granite which were thus conveyed - bases ten feet square; die blocks six feet cube; shafts over thirty feet long and mausoleum roofstones of forty tons or more. And while winter transportation on sleds was easier, in some respects, it required the utmost skill and a thorough understanding of horseflesh to negotiate the steep road with its sharp curves. And that, in spite of the ‘clog’ chains placed under the runners on the more dangerous places - for they (chains) would sometimes break and over the bank the whole business would go. Oft-times special spans of horses would be hitched behind the load to hold back on the steeper pitches.
(Photo caption, pp. 549) The Leland Stanford Roof Stone from the Wetmore & Morse Quarry on Main street, Barre, Vermont, in 1888.
“I can not recall a serious accident to either driver or horses in any of those spills - which were comparatively rare when considering the volume of material conveyed.
“In recent years, automotive trucks have been competing vigorously with the railroad in transporting rough granite from the ‘hill’ (as the quarries are locally termed) to the manufacturing plants.
Manufacturing
“Fifty years ago most of the manufacturers - their employees too - were young men. Mere boys from a modern standard. Practical, skilled workmen they were but lacking in business training. To offset that they - partly through competitive necessity and partly through natural energy and ambition - worked physically during the day and did their office work in the evenings.
“The office was sometimes a partitioned half of the blacksmith shop; sometimes a dusty loft in the end of the plant; occasionally those duties were done at home. Where there were two partners one usually worked at the ‘banker’ while the other did the ‘bossing’ - which included serving as head lumper.
“When better quarters were being gradually introduced and office help employed, there were dubious head-shakings and grave misgivings about such ‘extravagance.’
“The curved type plant, with boom derrick in the center of its circular yard, was the most common. The majority of those derricks, as well as the travelling cranes (out-of-doors) at the few straight-type plants, were hand operated. The first travelling crane here was imported from Scotland about 1884 and was equipped with chains - anchor chain style. Wire cables - a later innovation - were installed years afterwards.
(Photo caption, pp. 549) Marr & Gordon, Barre Vermont, in 1884. This was the first overhead crane. (Hand operated.)
“It was during the early nineties that this class of machinery was changed from hand operation and horse sweeps to power drive. And it was during that same decade that the straight type of granite plant with its monitor roof came into existence.
“We were not entirely without machinery in 1889 as cutting and polishing lathes, a MacDonald surfacer and the regular polishing machines were all in operation - as well as the first gang saw.
“The lathes were turning out columns, urns, vases, etc. The MacDonald surfacer was a ponderous machine best adapted for spires, large bases and roof stones - taking them from the rough and producing a hammered finish. Its set-up was two rotating vertical shafts with a four-armed spider on the bottom of each to which were attached bevel-edged discs set at a cutting angle.
“Foot power grindstones were in general use and wood burning stoves were the principal sources of winter heating - the first arrival in the morning, lighting them.
“Pneumatic machinery was introduced in 1892 on a monthly rental basis. When possible to purchase them later the hand tools cost $200.00 each and the surfacing machines $3500.00. Truly high prices from a modern viewpoint but the improvement over hand work justified it. The carving and lettering tools were first operated with forty pounds of air pressure and the surfacers with sixty to seventy pounds.
“The edging or honing saw made its appearance about 1912 although it may have been used earlier in the building centers. This machine is of great value in the safe and economical production of certain classes of work including rabbets and mouldings.
“Very few large saws were installed until 1910. They are of the gang, circle and oscillating types and all used chilled shot as a cutting agent. The gang saws have greatly increased during the last decade. This equipment conserves the consumption of rough stock and does much of the work previously done by the surfacing machines.
“The sand blast, although operated in Scotland many years before being displaced by the pneumatic tools, was first used in Barre in 1915. It brought about an entirely new simplified method of carving and lettering - and is still being improved upon.
“The ‘ten-hour day’ was supplanted by one of nine hours in 1890 and eight hours in 1900.
“During these many years - and previously - the term ‘butty’ has been common in our industry. Could it have been the forerunner of the World War’s ‘buddy’?
Polishing
“The polishing machines in 1889 were known as Verticles and Jenny Linds. The former, a straight shaft operated by belting and gears aloft with the polishing wheels attached at the bottom. The Jenny Lind was of the gate type with wooden arms. The “beds” were small - often individual stones. The grinding was light as all work then, aside from the very few sawed stones, were either pean-hammered or four-cut. The beds were single so each polisher helped to turn his own. The double beds developed during the ‘Gay Nineties.”
“Scotch shot, Naxos and Chester emery and rope-filled buffers with ‘putty powder’ were the polishing materials. A wheel of thirty inches diameter was considered a large one. Carborundum was introduced about 1895 but it was only in recent years that the present method of grading the abrasives came into general use. Roughly speaking, polishing consists of three stages - ironing, emerying and buffing.
Shipping
“One of my first duties as a boy five decades ago was ‘marking the boxes’ - painting the customers’ (sic) name and destination on the boxed stones. That brought a familiarity with freight cars - for most of the plants were located on railroad sidings and did their own loading - often after regular working hours. Very little teaming to the depot - and no pool cars.
“The ordinary freight cars then - mostly boxes - were of 24,000 lbs. capacity. Some were 30,000 while the rare ones of 40,000 were inspected with interest.
“The new Barre Railroad had a few of 50,000 which were reserved for heavy stones. They were quite a curiosity.
The Barre Granite Association
“The Granite Manufacturers Association - as called then and for long thereafter - was organized April 6, 1889; so is also celebrating its semi-centennial.
“At a meeting held May 6 th of that year, in the Odd Fellows Hall at Barre with fourteen members present, the annual dues were set at $4.00 and the following committee was appointed ‘to try and get all the Barre manufacturers to join the Association.’ - Alex Buchan, Steve Forsyth, Alex Milne, John Sullivan and H. K. Bush.
“There was apparently no definitely established apprenticeship term for granite cutting as at subsequent meetings the question was vigorously debated - whether two or three years.
“A committee composed of William Barclay (father of the writer of this article), John McDonald, Sidney Wells, H. K. Bush and James Ingram finally recommended three years at $0.75 a day for the first year, $1.25 for the second, and $1.75 for the third (and those were ten-hour days). That report was adopted September 27 th and the following month a committee from the Union - George Troup, Joseph Pierce and George Mitchell - met in joint conference and confirmed the regular.
“The officers for that first year of 1889 were: President, Alex Gordon; Vice-president, H. K. Bush; Secretary, Wm. Barclay; Treasurer, Thomas Williams; Board of Managers, E. L. Smith, Sidney Wells, James Ingram and John Sullivan.
“The Association has steadily continued its valuable services - from a secretary doing the duties at home to the present organization which occupies a suite of rooms and is ‘manned’ by an efficient staff.
(Photo caption, pp. 550) Beck and Beck at the turn of the century. Extreme right, the late Lothar C. Beck. Boys on stone are sons of Lothar, Wendlin Beck, lower, Charles Beck, above, present proprietors.
Health
“Climatic conditions made necessary closed doors and windows in our heated plants several month of the year. So the advent of pneumatic tools brought a dust hazard. Suction equipment for the surfacing machines was installed in 1915. Continuous experimentation has since finally resulted in the perfection of dust removal machinery for the hand tools. Those important improvements, coupled with the absolutely dustless portions of granite cutting now being done by the various types of edgers, saws and steeling machines, have solved the dust problem in the Barre district - making granite cutting a healthy occupation.
The Melting Pot
“Five decades ago, Scottish immigration here was well under way. The Italian Colony was just beginning. The third large wave of foreign-born people - the French Canadians - did not really commence until after a score of years later. Of those three, the Italian was probably the greatest. The Spanish, starting early this century, would probably come fourth but we must not forget the Scandinavian, Swiss, Austrian, English, Irish and others scattered throughout this epoch. Those different nationalities - and others not directly connected with the granite industry - have all blended and worked together harmoniously in our community. As an illustration of that - bringing in, of course, the second and third generation - one of our recent football teams represented nine different nationalities.
Conclusion
“As boy and man, this half century of contact with one of the oldest* of all industries has been a period of never failing interest; the development from hand to machine production; the transition from a ten-hour to a eight-hour work day - from 59 to a 40 hour week; granite cutters’ wages increased from 29 ½ cents hourly ‘average’ to the present 1.06 ¼ hourly minimum.
“Last but most important is our sound health basis - in the establishment of which both employer and employee have cooperated so harmoniously.
“This article would not be complete without the extension of congratulations to the Monumental News in its arrival - through periods of stress and strain - at its Fiftieth Anniversary.
William Barclay
(* “In support of my statement that this is ‘one of the oldest of all industries’ we must remember prehistoric man with his stone implements, hammers, arrow and spear heads living in stone-hewn caves - centuries before the Metal Age. And doesn’t the Good Book tell of that basis of Law and Order - the Ten Commandments being engraved on tablets of stone - All done by men of our craft - stone cutters. (Latter Spiritual?)”)
“The subject talked of most at present is the excursion of the Michigan Marble and Granite dealers’ Association, and their other western neighbors who are expected in Barre on August 22 nd. It is needless to write that their arrival will be anxiously awaited by all interested in the granite business here, and that everything possible will be done to make the two days which are to be spent in our city pleasant and profitable to all concerned.
“Among the many things which will be enjoyed, will be a trip to the summit of our great granite mountain, over the famous ‘Skye Route’ Barre Rail Road, which is considered a marvelous product of engineering skill, and was built expressly to transport the granite from the various quarries to the shops in our city and other parts of the country. The highest point reached is 1025 feet above the starting point. Those who appreciate the beauties of nature will at intervals along the route view scenes which will lead them to admit that our Green Mountain state has been fitly called the Switzerland of America. But, of course, the feature of the trip will be the inspection of our quarries which have, in a comparatively few years, transformed almost worthless cow pastures into mines of wealth, and a quiet little New England village into a thriving, hustling, bustling city. They will see acres of the most beautiful granite in existence, lying in sheets from which any sizes of stone can be readily quarried which derrick can lift or cars carry and in sufficient quantities to supply the demands of the trade for generations to come. They will see our light quarries from which is taken the granite which is used for hammered work particularly, and the dark quarries, from which comes the granite which is so beautiful in color and susceptible of the highest polish imaginable.
“They will observe that our quarry owners are, as a rule, up to date; and have adopted means and machinery for the quarrying and handling of granite which cannot be surpassed anywhere in the United States.
“Our quarriers realize more fully each year that times have changed, and the importance of getting out work and turning their money before early manhood is overtaken by old age. Great strides have been made in the last five or six years in the improvements mentioned; but we believe that in the not distant future inventive genius will devise many things which will far surpass those in use at the present time.
“An inspection of our manufacturing plants in the city will, we think, reveal to our visitors that the same principles have been adopted and put in practice there as in the quarries, in the employment of machinery for shaping, cutting, carving and polishing the rough blocks of granite into the various forms called for in monumental art. We believe we are safe in writing that there is no place in the country where so many substantially built and convenient shops can be found as in Barre. Everything will, we are assured, convince our visiting friends that our quarriers and manufacturers have full faith in the enterprise they are engaged in, and that their ambition is to furnish their customers with the best granite and best work in the market.” E. M. T.
Barre, Vermont – the Barre Granite Industry – “The Granite Industry,” by W. F. Scott, Barre, VT., in Inter-State Journal, Vol. 5, Nos. 4-5, July-Aug., 1902, White River Junction, VT. (in PDF format)
| “The Granite Industry,” by W. F. Scott, Barre, VT., in Inter-State Journal, Vol. 5, Nos. 4-5, July-Aug., 1902. (in PDF format) |  |
| A Quarry Train on the Hill, Barre, Vermont |  |
| A Granite Quarry, Barre, Vermont |  |
| Old way of drawing granite by wagon and horses, Barre, Vermont |  |
| Interior of Barclay Bros.’ granite shop, the largest in the world, Barre, Vermont |  |
| Interior of Jones Brothers’ polishing shed, Barre, Vermont |  |
Barre, Vermont - “Horses, Oxen and Granite,” (in Barre, Vermont), (online article) by Paul Wood, January 7, 2008, in the Barre Montpelier Times Argus.
The time period covered in this article is during the early 1800s.
Key words in article: Adamant Quarries, Montpelier, Vermont; block and tackle; boom derrick; clog chains; John Crouse of Syracuse, New York; Fayette Cutler, Barre, Vermont; double runner sleds; freight Tariffs; Joseph Glidden, Mark Glidden;granite quarries; granite sheds; horse sweep; Jones Brothers, Vermont; “New Hampshire Horses,” railroads; ramp, rollers; single-drum winch; skids; spur track; St. John the Devine Cathedral, New York City; Stanford Mausoleum; wagon pulled by horses and oxen teams, wagons.
J. Aja & Co., Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of Light and Dark Barre Granite Monuments And General Cemetery Work.
A. Anderson & Sons, Barre, VT.
Manufacturers and Dealers in Light and Dark Barre Granite. Cemetery Work of every Description.
Correspondence with Dealers solicited. Do not fail to get our prices. A few stock jobs on hand. Write for designs and prices.
Adie & Mitchell, Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of All Kinds of BarreGraniteMonumentsand Cemetery Work. Get Our Prices.
“(Acme Granite) Company History
The Acme Granite Company was incorporated on August 4, 1894. E.E.Arey, C.N. Scott, W.A. Scott, C.W. Scott, and H.W. Scott were partners. John Brechin later invested money in the company. The six acre quarry, formerly the Preston & Whitcomb quarry, was located on the Lewis Keith farm on Millstone Hill. The specialty of the quarry was the dark gray granite or Dark Barre Granite. Charles N. Scott (b. 1874) was president and general manager, while H.W. Scott (b. 1870) was its treasurer and legal advisor. James Brechin (b. 1865), born in Aberdeen, Scotland, was the estimator, and supervised cutting and shipping. The company seems to have dissolved in 1910, as there are no more entries for it in the Barre City Directory.”
“James Ahern, manufacturer of all kinds of quarrymen’s and stonecutters’ tools, came from Rhode Island, and commenced his manufacturing business November 1, 1886. His shop is located at the foot of Granite street, and is furnished with an eight-horse power upright steam engine. Mr. Ahern employs four men.”
Alex. Fraser & Co.
Wholesale Dealers in American, Red Swede, Labrador and Scotch Granites, Marble and Statuary.
Give a share of your trade to Alex. Fraser & Co.
Works at Barre, Vt. - Branch Office, Aberdeen, Scot. (and) Mansfield, O.
Dealers Should Use Our Aluminum Name Plates. The Best Thing of the Kind Ever Introduced. Send for a Sample.
“Alexander Grant & Co. are sculptors and designers, and make a specialty of fine carved statuary work. Mr. Grant, the senior member of this firm, was born in Parish Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland. He came to America in 1872, and learned his trade in Hallowell, Maine. He has the honor of carving the first figure in granite in Vermont, and has since executed some of the most celebrated pieces of statuary in this country. Mr. A. J. Dingle, the junior member of the firm, was born in Cornwall, England, and came to this country in 1881. He has also executed some very fine statuary work.”
"The firm of J. E. Harrison & Son, Adrain, Mich., has been reorganized and incorporated under the name of The Harrison Granite Co., with a paid-up capital stock of $60,000. The new company is also the successor of the American Granite Co., of Barre, Vt."
This quarry was “about S. 10° E. of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre, 1,800 feet northeast of the Williamstown line.” The granite is of a gray color and fine texture.
The quarry opened about 1892. When it was measured in 1907 it was about 200 feet in a N. 45 ° W. direction by 150 feet across. It had a depth from 50 to 75 feet. At the time of the inspection the quarry was abandoned.
This quarry was “southeast of the Milne & Wylie quarry and about south of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The quarry was owned by the Boutwell Company. The granite is a “dark Barre,” a dark color and fine texture similar to the granite found in the Bruce and Milne & Wilie quarries.
The Bailey Quarry was opened in 1907, although it was idle at the time of the inspection. When the quarry was measured in 1907 it was about 135 by 75 feet and had a depth from 10 to 35 feet.
Barclay Brothers,
Quarry Owners, Manufactures and Polishers of….Barre Granite.
We own and operate Light and Dark quarries that are producing first-class dimension stock of any size. Our facilities for Quarrying are unsurpassed, and orders for Rough Stock will receive prompt attention. Our manufacturing department is equipped with Pneumatic Tools for surfacing, carving and lettering granite. Our new surfacing machine is the latest and most valuable improvement ever made in granite working machinery, and gives more satisfactory results on large surfaces than when finished by hand. Our Column Cutting Lathes and Polishing Lathes are the largest in Barre, and our polishing mill is equipped with thirteen polishing machines. We have every convenience for handling Large Work.
Caps, Dies, Etc., Polished for the Trade. - Barre, Vermont.
The Barclay quarry was “the S. 35° W. continuation of the large Jones Light quarry…” The operator was the Standard Granite co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is “light Barre,” of a light, slightly bluish-gray color and a fine to medium texture.
The Barclay Quarry opened in 1907 and measured 220 by 100 feet with a depth of 75 feet.
Granite from this quarry was used for monuments and memorial chapels. Examples are: The Robert Burns statue and pedestal in Barre, Vermont; the First North Dakota soldiers’ Memorial in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Indian Massacre Memorial in Serena, Illinois, the Wade Memorial Chapel in Cleveland, Ohio; the Hancock (canopy) Memorial in San Francisco, California; the Doctor Kimball Memorial in Concord, New Hampshire, the General Thomas (shaft) memorial in Springfield, Ohio; and the Senator Dillon Shaft in Davenport, Iowa.
Barre, Vermont – Barclay Brothers in “The Granite Industry (of Barre, Vermont),” by W. F. Scott,in the Interstate Journal, July-August, 1902, Vol. 5, Nos. 4-5.
| Interior of Barclay Bros.’ granite shop, the largest in the world, Barre, Vermont | |
| (colorized postcard photograph #9070; Pub. expressly for the F. W. Woolworth Co.; postmark July 30 1914) |  |
The Barre Granite & Quarry Company’s granite quarry was “about 500 feet north of the Canton quarry, and in about that direction from the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was E. L. Smith & Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is “light Barre” with a light-gray color.
The Barre Granite & Quarry Company’s quarry was opened in 1904. When it was measured in 1907, it was about 300 feet in a N. 22° E. direction by 150 feet across. When it was measured in 1918 it had a depth of 100 feet.
The granite from this quarry was used for monuments and buildings. Granite from this quarry was mainly used in the Vermont capitol in Montpelier.
Barre, Washington County, Vermont – the Barre Granite Works (circa 1899) (Granite) (Excerpt from Gazetteer of Washington County, Vermont, 1783-1889, Part First, compiled and published by Hamilton Child, Edited by William Adams, Syracuse, N.Y.: The Syracuse Journal Co., Printers and Binders, April 1899, pp. 142-143. (This book is available on Google Book Search – Full View Books for reading or downloading to your computer in PDF format.)
“The Barre granite works have an office and shops opposite the Central Vermont railroad station. Messrs. H. A. Duffy and W. S. George are the proprietors. The firm owns quarries of dark and light granite, employs from fifty to sixty men, manufactures every description of monumental, cemetery, and statuary work, and deals in both rough and finished granite. Mr. Duffy is a practical granite and marble cutter. He came to Barre from Syracuse, N. Y., where he had nineteen years’ experience in the business, and, with Daniel J. Francis, was the firm of ‘Syracuse Marble and Granite Co.’ The energy and push of this company has made it one of the leading firms in Barre.”
The Barre Medium Quarry was “about 500 feet southeast of the Milne quarry.” The operator was the Barre Medium Granite Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is “medium and light Barre,” having a light medium bluish-gray color and fine to medium texture.
The Barre Medium Quarry opened in 1906. It was measured in 1907 and was found to be 200 feet from north to south by 150 feet across. It had a depth from 10 to 25 feet. In 1922 the quarry was idle.
Bizzozero & Co., Barre, VT
Manufacturers of all kinds of Monumental Work From Light and Dark Barre Granite.
| (colorized postcard photograph #11, #74118, C. W. Hughes & Co., Inc., Mechanicville, N.Y.; C. T. American Art Colored; no postmark) |  |
The Boutwell quarry was “about south of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was Boutwell, Milne & Varnum Co. in Montpelier, Vermont. The granite was chiefly “dark Barre” but there is also “dark medium” and “medium” granite. The “dark Barre” is a medium bluish-gray color with a fine texture.
The Boutwell Quarry opened about 1886. The shape of the quarry at inspection was T-shaped and measured “about 600 feet in a N. 80 ° E. direction by 60 feet north and south at the east end and 120 feet at the west end, with a 150-foot square extension on the north side, but only 150 feet from the west side.” It had a depth of 50 to 100 feet in 1907.
The granite from the Boutwell Quarry was sold in rough blocks and the author reports “there are no records of the monuments made of its blocks.”
The Smith obelisk at Sharon Vermont, was made from granite from the Boutwell Quarry.
| (color postcard photograph #9068; published expressly for the F.W. Woolworth Co.; postmark November 10, 1913) |  |
| (postcard photograph; early 1900s; unmailed) |  |
| Ad from The Vermonter, The State Magazine, Published monthly by Chas. R. Cummings, White River Junction, Vermont, January 1911. |  |
See: Barre, Washington County, Vermont – the Vermont Granite Co. (circa 1899)
“The Bruce quarry adjoins the Boutwell on the southwest and lies about south of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was Boutwell, Milne & Varnum Co., Montpelier, Vermont. The granite is a “dark Barre” of a medium bluish-gray color and fine texture.
Accessory minerals: Titanite, magnetite, pyrite. Secondary minerals: Not a little calcite within the orthoclase, kaolin, one or two white micas.
The Bruce Quarry opened in 1890. When it was measured in 1907 it was “about 250 feet in a N. 80 ° E. direction by 125 feet across and 60 to 100 feet in depth.”
Burley & Calder, Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of Barre Granite Monuments and General Cemetery Work. All orders promptly filled. A trial solicited.
Burr, Emslie and King, Barre, Vermont
Manufacturers of Monuments and General Cemetery Work
From Best Barre Granite. Correspondence solicited.
Barre, Vermont – Cable & Edwards (Monument Manufacturer and Dealer) (The following advertisement is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 522.)
Cable & Edwards
Manufacturers and Dealers in Best Barre Granite Monuments
And Other Cemetery Work. Write for Prices.
Barre, VT.
| (postcard photograph, A 15470, made in Germany, unmailed.) |  |
| (color postcard photograph; published by Palmer's 5 & 10 Stores; made in Germany, unmailed) |  |
| (colorized postcard photograph #25, 117244; C. W. Hughes & Co., Inc., Mechanicville, N.Y.; C. T. American Art Colored; no postmark) |  |
| (colorized postcard photograph, #24, 117995-N; Lincoln-Lillie, Montpelier, VT.; Genuine Curteich-Chicago "C.T. American Art" Post Card (reg. U.S. Pat. Off.); no postmark; early 1900s) |  |
| (postcard photograph #4, A-74119; Chas. W. Hughes, Mechanicville, N.Y.; no postmark, ca 1924 - 1925) |  |
| Vermont-Barre Granite Quarry with Derrick Photo |  |
| (postcard photograph; early 1900s; unmailed) |  |
CantonBrothers,
Manufacturers of Light and Dark Barre Granite Monuments and General Cemetery Work. Write for Estimates. - Barre, VT.
The Canton Quarry was located “about 450 feet east-northeast of the Millstone quarry and northeast of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was E. L. Smith & Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is “medium and light Barre,” medium and light bluish-gray.
In 1907 the quarry was estimated to measure about 300 feet in a northeasterly direction by 200 feet across and from 35 to 60 feet in depth.
The Capital Quarry was located “750 feet south-southeast of the McDonald & Cutter quarry and southeast of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was the Consolidated Quarry Co. of Barre. The granite is “medium and light Barre,” with a light bluish-gray color.
In 1907 the quarry measured 150 feet in a northeast direction by 100 feet cross. It had a depth of 50 feet. The Capital Quarry was a “boulder” quarry. It was idle in 1921 and 1922.
Carle & Walker, Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of and Dealers in Light and Dark Barre Granite
Monuments, Tablets and General Cemetery Work.
Fine Draped Work A Specialty.
“Carnes & Kane’s granite cutting and polishing shops are located at East Barre village. Mr. Carnes commenced business in 1879, and then employed but one man. In 1885 he built the shops, 50 by 20 feet, now occupied by the firm, and put in two polishing machines. Mr. Kane became his partner in 1886. The firm owns two quarries and turns out a general line of monumental and statuary, rough and polished, granite work, and gives employment to twenty men.”
Chas. H. More & Co., Quarriers, Cutters and Polishers
Of the celebrated Barre and other New England Granites. Also importers of Swedish and Scotch Granites and Italian Marble Statuary. Exclusively Wholesale. Our own Barre, Swedish and Labrador Stock.
Main Office, Barre, VT.
Foreign Office, 107 Union St., Aberdeen, Scotland.
Western Office, 53 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill.
(Captions under two photographs in advertisement:
Exterior View of Barre Plant - Interior View of Plant at Montpelier.)
Clarihew & Gray, Barre, VT.
Manufacturers and Dealers in Barre, Granite.
For Monumental and Building work, being fully equipped with cutting and polishing plants and all latest improvements including pneumatic tools. We are able to complete successfully with any in the trade. We invite all dealers desiring first-class work to correspond with us.
Coburn & Jones - Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of Monuments and General Cemetery Work. Best Barre Granite - Give us your Orders.
The Consolidated Quarry was located “860 feet above the city and N. 75° E. from the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was Wetmore & Morse Granite co. of Montpelier, Vermont. The granite is a “lite Barre,” with a slightly bluish color like the granite in the Wetmore & Morse and Smith Upper quarries, and has a fine to medium texture.
The quarry was estimated in 1907 to measure “about 300 feet from north to south by as much across and in 1917 was from 75 to 100 feet deep.”
“James Cordiner’s granite shops are located opposite Central Vermont railroad station. Mr. Cordiner is a practical granite cutter and commenced business in Barre in 1887, and manufactures for wholesale and retail all kinds of monumental and cemetery work. He gives employment to twelve or fifteen hands.”
The Duffee quarry was located “west-northwest of and lower than the Smith Upper quarry and southwest of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operator was the E. L. Smith & Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite in this quarry is a “medium Barre” of a medium bluish-gray color (“a trifle darker than ‘ Concord granite’)…” It had a fine texture. Some “dark Barre” granite was also in the Duffee Quarry.
Accessory minerals: Allanite, zircon, probably also magnetite and pyrite. Secondary minerals: Calcite, usually in the orthoclase, kaolin, one or two white micas, epidote, quartz, chlorite.
“When quarry was estimated to be about 400 feet east to west on one side and 300 on the other by 200 feet across and about 75 feet in depth.”
E. C. French, Lock Box 60, Barre, VT
Manufacturer of and Dealer in Monumental Work of all kinds
From the best Light and Dark Barre Granite..
Eclat Granite Co. - Barre, Vt.
Manufacturers of All Kinds of Monumental Work. Statuary and Fine Carving a Specialty.
"Mayor Smith has sold his entire interest in the granite firm of E. L. Smith & Co., Barre, Vt., to his partners, Donald and John Smith. The purchase includes the quarries and plant. The firm was one of the largest in the city."
“E. L. Smith & Co. (E. L. Smith, John E. Smith, & Donald Smith), quarrymen, are wholesale and retail dealers in rough and finished, light and dark, Barre granite, monumental, cemetery, and statuary work. This firm gives employment to about forty men. Mr. E. L. Smith began business on Cobble Hill, in the spring of 1868, and has continued in the business from that time to the present (1888). He has been associated as partner in several firms, and has been in this special business a longer time than any other man in Barre. In the long time he has been in the business he has furnished granite for the construction of the Methodist seminary and postoffice buildings in Montpelier, the Reform school at Waterbury, and an incalculable amount for numerous other buildings. Mr. Smith was the first in Barre to quarry granite steam drill; and the first to use the electric battery in blasting.”
The Smith Lower Quarry was “west northwest of the Duffee quarry near the foot of Millstone Hill and S. 60° W. from its top, in Barre.” The operator was the E. L. Smith & Co., of Barre, Vermont. The granite is a “medium Barre,” although the quarry also produced some “dark Barre.” The quarry was “estimated to be about 250 feet east to west by 200 feet across, and 150 feet in depth.”
Smith Upper Quarry was “southwest of and below the (Wetmore & Morse Quarry), is S. 32° W. of the top of Millstone Hill, in Barre.” The operators were E. L. Smith & Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is a “light Barre,” a medium, slightly bluish-gray color with a fine to medium texture.
Accessory minerals: Pyrite, magnetite, titanite, apatite, zircon. Secondary minerals: Calcite, usually in the orthoclase, kaolin, one or two white micas, and chlorite and epidote.
At the time of the inspection the quarry had a very irregular outline and measured “about 400 feet in a N. 30° E. direction by 200 feet across and about 50 feet in depth.”
Granite from this quarry was used as monumental stone. Examples of granite from the quarries of E. L. Smith & Co. are: Tuxbury exedra at Saco, Maine; the pedestal of the equestrian statue of St. Louis (erected by W. R. Hodges) and the Lemp mausoleum in St. Louis, Missouri; the Cluett obelisk “with 44-foot shaft” and the Hageman mausoleum in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Troy, New York; the Fleischmann mausoleum in Cincinnati, Ohio; and the Kaufman mausoleum in Marquette, Michigan. Granite from this quarry also went into the building of the Barre post office.
Barre, Vermont - the E. L. Smith & Co. (Advertisement) (from Monumental News-Review Magazine, January 1939, Vol. 51, No. 1.)
Seventy Years
“With the advent of 1939, E. L. Smith & Company conclude their 70th year in the production of Smith-Barre Granite.
“In the spring of 1868, a few weeks before General Grant became the Republican nominee for President, the late Emery L. Smith founded the organization which to this day bears his name. A veteran of the Civil War, the first Mayor of the incorporated City of Barre and a pioneer in the development of the Barre granite industry. Mr. Smith was a resourceful executive whose vision, enterprise and exacting standards rapidly and firmly established Smith-Barre Granite in the supremacy of monumental materials in America.
“The E. L. Smith & Company quarries were the first in Barre to install permanent derricks; first to install facilities for operation in the winter months; first to utilize the electric battery for blasting; first to use the steam driven drill; first to adopt compressed air for drilling and first to introduce the plug drill which revolutionized quarry operations. Many of these innovations in both production and service were inaugurated by the late Donald Smith, president of the company, whose sons, Donald W. Smith and J. Wendell Smith are now most successfully directing the management of this organization.
“The prestige of a Smith-Barre Granite, sustained for nearly three quarters of a century, emanates from the enthusiastic endorsement and expanding patronage of quality craftsmen and quality manufacturers. E. L. Smith & Company do not advertise to the consumer. E. L. Smith & Company do not advertise to the consumer nor do they resort to high pressure merchandising. Craftsmen and manufacturers - the men who know - are responsible for the ever increasing demand for Smith-Barre Granite. The consistent patronage of these expert workers-in-stone, together with the acclaim of cemetery officials throughout the nation, give testimony that Smith-Barre indeed the ‘choice product of the world famed Barre quarries.’
“To the quality craftsmen of the United Sates and Canada, to the quality manufacturers of Barre and other production centers, and to the cemetery officials of both nations...these Anniversary Greetings from the quarriers of Smith-Barre Granite, ‘Medium of the Masters.’
E. L. Smith & Co., Barre, Vt.
Barre, Vermont – the E. L. Smith Quarry (postcard photograph No. 12; Pub. by Rudy’s Post Card Service, 34 Knollin St., Malden, Mass.; “Lusterchrome” Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Made only by Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston 15, Mass.; Color Photo by Stephen Warner)
| E. L. Smith Quarry, Barre, Vermont “A granite quarry, Barre, Vt. The quarries in Barre are the largest in the world. Pictured here is the E. L. Smith quarry.” |  |
The Empire Dark Quarry was located “southwest of the Milne & Wylie quarry and about south-southwest of the top of Millstone Hill in Barre, just north of the Williamstown line.” The operator was Boutwell, Milne & Varnum Co. of Montpelier, Vermont. The granite is similar to that found in the Bruce Quarry.
The Empire Dark Quarry opened about 1888. When measured it was about 375 feet in a N. 75 ° E. direction by 200 feet across and had a depth from 75 to 120 feet in 1907.
The Empire Light Quarry was “about 800 feet east southeast of the Milne quarry, on the north side of the southern road from Websterville to East Barre.” The operator was E. L. Smith & Co. of Barre, Vermont. The granite is “light and medium Barre, which color varies from light medium to medium, slightly bluish gray color with fine to medium texture.
The Empire Light Granite Quarry opened about 1889. In 1907 the estimated measurements of the quarry were “about 375 by 200 feet and from 10 to 50 feet deep.” In 1917 the quarry was not in operation.
“Emslie & Coburn’s granite works are located opposite the Central Vermont railroad station. The firm, William Emslie and Alexander Coburn, practical granite cutters, commenced business in the spring of 1886. They turn out monumental and statuary work and all kinds of Barre granite, are wholesale and retail dealers, and employ sixteen men.”
Enterprise Granite Co., Barre, VT.
Manufacturers of Light and Dark Barre Granite Monuments.
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