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Home > Vermont > Quarry Links and Photographs
“It's All About Marble,” Dorset’s Marble Heritage event to be held on Sunday, July 27th from 12 - 5:00 P.M. at the Dorset Historical Society, Bley House Museum, on VT-30, Dorset. The afternoon’s celebration will include Speaker’s Art Gilbert, retired geologist, Terry Tyler, Larry Becker, State Geologist, and Tyler Resch, author of “Dorset” as they focus on the history of the Dorset area’s quarries and marble industry.
Area sculptor Rosalind Compain will be unveiling a sculpture for the Dorset Historical Society made from the Plateau marble. Sculptors Fred X. Brownstein, Michael Fannin, Ryder Owens, Paul Hilliard, Karen Preissler, and Steve Storchwill will each have a block of Plateau marble to demonstrate the art of carving and will complete their sculptures for a Dorset Historical Society auction event to be held at a later date....”
“It’s All About Marble,” Dorset’s Marble Heritage will be free to the public and held on Sunday, July 27th rain or shine.
For more information about this special Dorset Historical Society event, or for general Dorset Historical Society information, please contact the Dorset Historical Society at (802) 867-0331.
| Gettysburg Quarry, photo compliments of the Dorset Historical Society |  |
D. L. Kent. Samuel J. Prince.
D. L. Kent & Co.,
Producers and Wholesale Dealers in
East Dorset Italian, South Dorset White,
Florence and Rutland Marbles.
The Dorset and Rutland Marbles, all from well-known quarries, are unsurpassed for Monumental and Building purposes. The Florence, but recently introduced, is daily increasing in popularity with the trade; its uniform and variegated colors of Light and Dark Blue, together with its peculiar Italian veining, making it a marble of wonderful beauty; while its fine texture and grain combined with soundness, strength, and durability, assures perfect safety in its being worked in any shape or manner. Turned and finished stock to the trade only. Tiles and Hearths of best quality. Price lists and Designs sent upon application. Office and Mills at East Dorset, Vermont. On line of Bennington & Rutland Railway, 58 miles from Troy, N.Y. and 25 miles from Rutland.
“The East Dorset Italian quarry, also idle in 1910, is between the Folsom and Blue Ledge quarries about 300 feet south of the latter. Owner, Dorset Mountain Marble Co., East Dorset, Vt.
“In 1900 marble about 35 feet thick was in sight and drillings at the bottom of quarry showed 17 feet more–beginning above, three 3-foot beds, one 2-foot, and one 6-foot.
“Specimens M, IV, 192, a to d, from the west side, floor and 10 and 20 feet up, and from the south side, show a coarse white calcite marble of grade 5, in places with grayish bands or with limonitic bands from oxidized pyrite. A polished specimen (D, XXXI, 79, a) is of light bluish-gray color, with little plicated dark-gray graphitic beds.
“The beds are horizontal; vertical joints strike N. 80° E. and N. 10 ° W., and one dipping 70° N. 55° W. strikes N. 35° E.”
Hawley & Field Marble Co., Producers of VT. Italian Marble.
Yard and Mill at Rail Road Depot., East Dorset, Vermont, 1870.
* * * * * * *
The Vermont Italian Quarries.
“There being at the present time a large and rapidly increasing demand for more durable marble and granite, in place of the less durable marbles, which have been extensively used for the past few years, it may be proper to state that the old Vermont Italian Quarry, on Mount Eolius, at East Dorset, first offered to the public a compact, strong and durable marble.
“This marble some twenty-five years since was carefully analyzed and submitted to other severe scientific tests and declared to be, in composition, different from the ordinary marbles, and of extraordinary durability.
“Subsequent observation, where it has stood in exposed situations for twenty years, with but slight tarnishing, shows these deductions of science to be correct. This marble is confidently believed to surpass in durability all other marble in use, domestic or foreign, and to fully merit the high praise it is receiving from many of the oldest and best Marble Dealers in the country.
“The quality has steadily improved year by year, as the quarrying has been carried back from the front into the mountain. We have now sixty feet in thickness of sound marble in eighteen different layers. We can fill orders for monuments of the largest size and select the pieces to match for color and appearance. We believe no other quarry affords equal facilities for obtaining large blocks of uniform character.
“Three-quarters of our marble is now ordered for Monuments and Headstones, for which it is admirably adapted, and gives universal satisfaction. We also have desirable layers for building fronts; also Mantle Marble susceptible of a high finish. No other quarry claiming to furnish Vermont Italian or East Dorset Italian Marble, has the depth of opening, or can furnish the upper mottled and variegated layers in sound condition.
“We are now taking stock from beneath a bed of lime rock thirty feet in thickness and believe it to be superior to anything before offered to our customers.
“We are also proprietors in the Æolian Quary (sic), so called, and can furnish marble from all the different layers.
“Persons wishing to visit us will find our office, yard and mill opposite the Rail Road station, at East Dorset, Vt., on the Harlem Extension Rail Road, twenty-five miles south of Rutland, Vt., and sixty miles north of Troy, N. Y.
“We add this season to our former facilities another Mill and heavier quarry force.
“Freight to the South and West the same as from Rutland.
HAWLEY & FIELD MARBLE CO., East Dorset, April 1 st 1870.
Prices, Adopted March 15, 1870.
Per Cubic Foot.
Monuments, best Vein, Light and Dark - $4.50
No. 1 - $4.00; No. 2 - $3.00
Strips for Caps and Bases, Best Vein - $3.00
No. 1 - $2.50; No. 2 - $2.00
Defective - $1.50
Bases for headstones, sawed - $3.00
Posts, best, No. 1 - $2.50; No. 2 - $2.00
Building Marble - $2.00 to $2.50
Blocks in the rough - $1.50 to 2.00
Boxing -.20
Per Superficial Foot.
One inch, Best Vein, and No. 1 average - $0.42; No. 2 - $0.30
Two inch, best vein, light and dark - $0.70; No. 1 - $0.60; No. 2 - $0.40
Slabs over 2 inches thick reduced to 2 inch measure.
Tile broken to size - $0.30
Tile finished and boxed - $0.45
Tile, Marble and Slate, half each - $0.40
Hearths, sawed edges - $0.30
Foot Stones, edges sawed - $0.30; trimmed - $0.20
Edging and boxing 2 inch - $0.10
TERMS: - Four months on approved paper, payable at Bank, with exchange on New York City, interest added: or a discount of three per cent, will be made for cash. We do not hold ourselves responsible for delays or damages in transportation.
E. J. Hawley, Fred’k Field, Chas. Field
Hawley & Field Marble Co.
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Eden.…”
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of… Enosburgh….”
A. N. Adams,
Fair Haven, Vermont.
Established in 1845.
Producer of Florence & Esperanza Marbles, And Sole Manufacturer of The Clogston Patent Gangs, Lathes, Slate Saws, Billiard Jointers. Lifting Jacks. Etc. Send For Circulars.
(Caption under photograph: Clogston Patent Gang.)
C. T. Maynard & Co., Fairhaven, Vermont.
Manufacturers of New and Improved Lifting Jacks. Double and triple Geared. All inside works are of cast steel, all boxes and bushings of brass and copper, center bar of hammered steel, machine cut gears, face plates of rolled steel, all jacks are white oak wood stock thoroughly seasoned. Not an ounce of cast iron used in their construction.
We manufacture four sizes ranging from 2 to 10 and 15 tons. Write for Catalogue and price lists. We also manufacture Marble and Slate Mill Machinery, Gang Saws, Derricks, Hoisting Powers, Dump Cars, Block Cars and general stone working machinery.
Michael Keenan has sold his interest in the slate business of Durick, Keenan & Co., of Fairhaven, Vt., to Daniel Durick and Patrick Keenan. Michael Keenan expects to open a slate mill formerly operated by Bolger Bros., at Hydeville. The former company has bought the Hazard quarry on Scotch Hill, for $5,000.
Eureka Slate Quarries, Fair Haven, Vt.
The oldest and largest Unfading Green Slate Quarry
in the United States. Producers also of Mottled Green and Purple.
A. Tuttle, Treas.
"Minogue & Greer, Fair Haven, Vt., have shipped a carload of roofing slate to a point in South America, which will necessitate its being transported about 200 miles over the Andes mountains on pack mules."
| (colorized postcard photograph; published by Herbert W. Smith, Jeweler, Fair Haven, Vermont; made in Germany; postmark July 22, 1922, of men cutting slate) |  |
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of Readsboro, Marlborough, Newfane, Windham, Townsend, Athens, Grafton, Andover, Chester, Cavendish, Baltimore, Ludlow, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Thetford, Bethel, Rochester, Warren, Braintree, Waitsfield, Moretown, Duxbury, Waterbury, Bolton, Stow, Cambridge, Waterville, Berkshire, Eden, Lowell, Belvidere, Johnson, Enosburgh, Westfield, Richford, Troy, and Jay.
“Of the beds named those in Grafton and Athens are stated to have been longest worked and to have produced the most stone. The beds lie in gneiss. The quarries were profitably worked as early as 1820. Another important bed is that in the town of Weathersfield. This, like that of Grafton, is situated in gneiss, but has no overlying rock, and the soap-stone occurs in inexhaustible quantities. It was first worked about 1847, and during 1859 about 800 tons of material were removed and sold….”
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The Benzie Quarry was located in Groton about a mile S. 25° W. from the Wells River Bridge at Groton and 300 feet above it, and about 4 ½ miles S. 85° W. from Blue Mountain, is Ryegate.” At the time of the report in 1923 the operator was the Bonazzi Quarry Co. (Inc.) of Montpelier, Vermont. The granite was called “Vermont Blue” and is of a medium, very bluish gray color with a medium to fine texture.
Accessory minerals: Titanite, pyrite, zircon crystals, apatite, allanite. Secondary minerals: a white mica, calcite, leucoxene.
The Benzie Quarry opened in 1896. When the quarry was measured in 1907, it was from about 200 by 175 feet and had a depth from 40 to 60 feet. The granite was carted 1 ½ miles to the cutting shed at Groton.
The granite from the Benzie Quarry was used for monuments and buildings. There is a granite dike of fine stone which was used for “special orders and carved work.” Examples of use of this granite are the Davison monument at Woodsville, New Hampshire, and the Dr. S. N. Eastman monument at Groton, Vermont.
Bashaw Brothers,
Manufacturers of Hardwick Granite.
Estimates on all classes of Monumental Work.Hardwick, VT.
Bickford & Moore
Bickford & Moore, of Hardwick, Vt., have secured a contract for granite to be used in the Lake Shore and Rock Island Union Terminal Station at Chicago. From 350 to 380 carloads of granite will be required, and it will require a force of about 150 men to complete the job in nine months.
The Buffalo Hill Quarry was located “about 2 ½ miles S. 60° W. from Hardwick village and about 500 feet above it.” In 1923 the operator was the Hardwick Granite Company of Hardwick. At the time of the inspection about 1923, the quarry had been idle since 1917. The granite in the quarry was “Dark-Blue Hardwick,” which is a dark-gray shade “a little darker than “Dark Barre” and a little lighter than “Dark Quincy.” It has a medium texture.
Accessory minerals: Pyrite, magnetite, apatite, zircon (crystals), and allanite. Secondary minerals: Kaolin, a white mica, epidote, and calcite. The soda-lime feldspar is radially intergrown with quartz.
The Buffalo Hill Quarry opened about 1887. In 1907 the quarry had a small irregular opening from about 20 to 30 feet deep. The quarry has no “sheets,” but is a “boulder quarry.” Transport of the granite was by cart 2 ½ miles to Hardwick.
Granite from the Buffalo Hill Quarry was used for monuments, “particularly for polished and rock-faced work.”
Hardwick, Vermont - Carter Granite Quarries Inc. (advertisement - publication and date of publication are unknown)
Royal Blue Granite
Is hard, fine-grained, clear and durable. It comes in good patterns and is easy working. It is dark blue in color and shows a splendid contrast between its light hammered and dark polished surface. It is an ideal stone for polishing, closing up perfectly and retaining its dark blue color indefinitely.
Send for free sample and prices of rough stock and slabs.
Carter Granite Quarries, Inc.
Quarries, Hardwick, Vermont
Office, Aldrich Building, Barre, Vermont
If you are interested in finished work from Royal Blue send a trial order to us - now. Royal Blue, when polished shows one of the best Blue and White surfaces in the granite industry. May we quote you on the above design?
George Y. Ralph, Hardwick, Vermont
“From the rough to a perfect ashler”
"There has been little change in the situation of the Columbian Granite Company, Hardwick, Vt. A meeting of the Directors washeld (sic), and Mr. Meader said that a stockholders' meeting would be called for December 2, to see if they wanted to close up or continue. Rumors of dissatisfaction have been rife for some time. Stockholders have found fault because there seemed to be constantly increasing indebtedness. Mr. Meader says that shipments have been made sufficient to cover every cent of indebtedness, and that there would have been no difficulty had the company been let alone until collections could be made. – Hardwick Gazette."
| (postcard photograph, early 1900s; unmailed) |  |
The Northern Granite Company, located at 168 College Street, Burlington, about 1923, operated a small quarry in 1915 located “south-southeast of Hardwick village.” This granite in this quarry is reported to be a dark granite on the south side of the quarry and a fine light granite on the north side of the quarry. The granite from this quarry was used in monuments, although during the time of the report in 1923, the quarry had been idle since 1915.
T. A. Green, Box 65. Hardwick, VT.
Light and Dark Hardwick and Woodbury Granite Monuments,
Tablets and General Cemetery Work. You will get my estimates by return mail.
R. Hanger's Slate Works, Hydeville, Vermont
Celebrated Vermont Building Slate,
Steps, Platforms, Urinals, Tubs,
Cemetery Work, Vaults, Catacombs,
Billiards, Mantel Stock.
Estimates Given Quickly.
“The Risk quarry, first opened (for lime burning) in 1664 and furnishing building stone in 1788, is on the west side of the south end of Isle la Motte, in Lake Champlain, 11 ½ miles south of the Canada line, in grand Isle County. The western edge of the quarry is only 100 feet from the shore. The quarry covers several acres and has a depth of 20 feet. Operator, N. W. Fisk, Fisk, Vt.
“The series consists in natural order of the following beds which are Chazy age:
Section of marble beds at Fisk quarry.
Black unmetamorphic calcite marble - 20 feet
Dark-gray crinoidal calcite marble - 4-6 feet
Dark-gray and black alternating calcite marble - 12 feet
(Total) - 36-38 feet
“The marbles, “Fisk black” and “Fisk gray” (specimens D, XXXI, 1, a, black, fresh; g, polished; e, f, weathered; b, gray, crinoidal; d, gray with Maclurea), have already been described in detail on pages 47-48. (See also fig. 9.) They are slightly dolomitic carbonaceous fossiliferous calcite marbles of unmetamorphic origin and of very dark gray shade and are susceptible of high polish. The weathered surface of the black is dark bluish gray in places, with irregular brownish-gray dolomitic bands. The polished surface is almost black, with here and there sections of Maclureas in white calcite. The stone, except the dolomite bands, effervesces freely with acid and is very sonorous. Certain tests and analyses of these marbles made for the architect of the Bennington Monument and the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition, are in Mr. Fisk’s possession.
“The beds dip 5° to 7° NE. and had a glaciated surface in places, with polished grooves protected by 2 to 4 feet of sand and clay, carrying a few bowlders. The black beds are subdivided into beds half an inch to 2 inches thick by dolomitic films or bands as thick as half an inch.
“The polished product is supplied to the market by the Barney Marble Co., of Swanton. The black has long been used for tiling all over the United States. In the post office at Worcester, Mass., it has been combined with marble from Swanton in wainscoting. The waste of the quarry is sold as crushed stone.”
Ibid., pg. 146 footnote: See Sixth Rept. Vermont State Geologist for 1907, 1908, Pl. VI, for photograph of one of the glacial grooves.
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Jay.…”
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Johnson….”
The Burke Quarry was located on the west foot of Kirby Mountain “about 1,000 feet N. 60° E. from the Kearney Hill Quarry and 2 1/8 miles roughly 50° W. from North Concord.” About 1923 the operator was the Kirby Granite company (W. J. Chapman) of East Burke, Vermont. The granite from this quarry is a light to medium gray color with a fine texture. In 1907 the quarry measured about 175 to 100 feet and had a depth from 10 to 20 feet. At the time of the 1923 report, the quarry had been idle since 1916.
Accessory minerals: Very little magnetite, apatite, zircon, and rutile. Secondary minerals: Kaolin, a white mica, epidote, zolsite, carbonate, and chlorite.
Transport of the granite from the quarry was by cart 5 ½ miles to the railway at Concord.
The granite from the Burke Quarry was used for rough and cut monuments.
The Grout Quarry was located on the south side of Kirby Mountain in the eastern part of the township about 9 miles northeast of St. Johnsbury, “2 ½ to 3 miles N. 20° W. of North Concord and about 450 feet above the station there.” About 1923 the operator was A. Rossi of North Concord. Granite from this quarry is a gray granite of a light to medium slightly bluish-gray color with a fine texture. Reportedly, the quarry was in operation in 1915 by was abandoned in 1916, according to the 1923 report.
Accessory minerals: Zircon. Secondary minerals: Kaolin and white mica.
The Grout Quarry opened about 1899. In 1906 the quarry had two openings. The northern opening (and the upper one) measured 40 by 25 feet and had a depth of 10 feet; the lower quarry measured 70 feet square and had a depth from 3 to 5 feet. Transport of the granite was by cart 5 to 6 miles to the railway at Concord.The granite from this quarry was used for monuments.
“The Huntley quarry is about 800 feet west of Leicester Township, Addison County. (See Pl. I and map of Brandon quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) Operator, Brandon Lime & Marble Co., Leicester Junction, Vt.
“The stratigraphic position of the marble beds of this quarry can hardly be determined, owing to the scarcity of outcrops and the distance of the quarry from the basal dolomite on the east and the schist on the west, 2 miles in each case. Marble more than 20 feet thick is exposed in beds which are doubled over on themselves two or three times.
“The marble (specimen D, XX, 217, a) is of translucent but dull aspect, light buff-pinkish color, and uneven parallel elongate texture, as shown in figure 25, with alternate irregular tiers of large and small grains. The larger grains, whose longer axes are parallel, have a diameter of 0.04, to 0.2, mostly 0.04, to 0.09 millimeter, and are thus of grade 1 (extra fine); the small grains are more roundish, with a tendency to rhombic form, and have a grain diameter of 0.009 to 0.03, averaging possibly about 0.02 millimeter, finer than grade 1. The larger grains show rhombic cleavage and twinning parallel to that cleavage, and are presumably calcite; the smaller ones, with neither cleavage nor twinning, may be dolomite, or else calcite crushed along its cleavage. (See p. 19.) The stone effervesces with acid more freely than dolomite. The marble of these quarries seems to be referred to by Hitchcock and Hager.
“The strike of the beds is N. 15° E. Beginning on the east there are within a width of 60 feet three synclines, two anticlines, and part of a third, with their axial planes inclined 45° - 55° E. From the manner in which the rock breaks from the mass it is evidently still under compressive or tensional strain. It is also rather sonorous. Some of these folds are shown in Perkins’s last report.”
Ibid., pg. 148 footnote: Geology of Vermont, vol. 2, 1861, p. 768.
“The Huntley quarry is about 800 feet west of Leicester Township, Addison County. (See Pl. I and map of Brandon quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) Operator, Brandon Lime & Marble Co., Leicester Junction, Vt.
“The stratigraphic position of the marble beds of this quarry can hardly be determined, owing to the scarcity of outcrops and the distance of the quarry from the basal dolomite on the east and the schist on the west, 2 miles in each case. Marble more than 20 feet thick is exposed in beds which are doubled over on themselves two or three times.
“The marble (specimen D, XX, 217, a) is of translucent but dull aspect, light buff-pinkish color, and uneven parallel elongate texture, as shown in figure 25, with alternate irregular tiers of large and small grains. The larger grains, whose longer axes are parallel, have a diameter of 0.04, to 0.2, mostly 0.04, to 0.09 millimeter, and are thus of grade 1 (extra fine); the small grains are more roundish, with a tendency to rhombic form, and have a grain diameter of 0.009 to 0.03, averaging possibly about 0.02 millimeter, finer than grade 1. The larger grains show rhombic cleavage and twinning parallel to that cleavage, and are presumably calcite; the smaller ones, with neither cleavage nor twinning, may be dolomite, or else calcite crushed along its cleavage. (See p. 19.) The stone effervesces with acid more freely than dolomite. The marble of these quarries seems to be referred to by Hitchcock and Hager.
“The strike of the beds is N. 15° E. Beginning on the east there are within a width of 60 feet three synclines, two anticlines, and part of a third, with their axial planes inclined 45° - 55° E. From the manner in which the rock breaks from the mass it is evidently still under compressive or tensional strain. It is also rather sonorous. Some of these folds are shown in Perkins’s last report.”
Ibid., pg. 148 footnote: Geology of Vermont, vol. 2, 1861, p. 768.
“About 0.7 mile southeast of the Huntley quarry is the Swimmington quarry of the Leicester Marble Lime Co., not visited by the writer but described by Perkins, in which a dark-gray (graphitic) marble forms a completely compressed (isoclinal) fold with an almost horizontal axial plane. The fold is about 7 ½ feet in diameter and 100 feet long.
“The structure at both of these quarries indicates that Leicester Junction marks the location of a north-south zone or axis of intense crystal compression similar to that which passes near the Owls Head, in Dorset. (See p. 93.)”
Ibid., pg. 148 footnote: Idem, pp. 349-351, Pls. LII, LXXL.
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Lowell….”
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Ludlow….”
“The Continental quarry is a mile west-northwest of the village. The marble is gray and white banded is overlain by dolomite. The beds, though nearly horizontal, show a minor fold striking clearly N. 55° E. One set of joints strikes N. 30° W.; another N. 65° W.”
“The Dyer quarry is on the south foot of Equinox Mountain, on the D. H. Dyer farm about 250 feet south of the Dyer house (see map, Pl. I), a mile north-northwest of the Sunderland station in the town of Manchester. The quarry is not operated. The opening is small and only 30 feet deep.
“The marble (specimens D, XVIII, 137, a, c, d, g, rough; D, XXXI, 81, a polished) is a breccia with bright brick-red cement and fragments of (1) pinkish to cream-colored and (2) bluish-gray calcite marble, and also of (3) a deep-reddish hematitic calcitic dolomite marble. The breccia is described more fully on page 48 and its general character is shown in Plate VIII, B, a. The pinkish marble belongs to grade 4, the bluish gray to grade 5, and the reddish to grade 2.
“The beds undulate in small folds, striking N. 20° - 25° E. The brecciated bed is reported to have been core drilled to a vertical depth of 200 feet. It is bordered on both the east and the west by a light bluish-gray calcite marble like that of some of its fragments. At a point about 3,400 feet S. 25° W.- that is, along the strike - close to the Sunderland line, a much jointed gray marble has been prospected, which has dolomite east of and under it. West and south of this prospect, on the cross road, the dips are low to the west. These facts indicate that the breccia will probably be found to be underlain by the dolomitic series at no great depth. There may, however, be a fault along the brecciated bed.
“Columns of the breccia 13 feet long have been obtained. The problem is to determine how much of the brecciated bed is free from fragments large enough to deprive it of ornamental quality. The weakness of the marble as a whole is no more of a detriment than that of the imported breccias.”
E. J. & C. H. Hawley, Manchester, Vt.
Hawley's Patent Sand Feed
Is used by all the leading firms – saws faster and better than any
other sandfeed.
More gangs using our feed than any other. Easily kept in order.
Also many gangs working satisfactorily, using crushed steel.
Can give best of references. Orders solicited.
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Marlborough….”
“The long disused Marble Ledge quarry is about 3 ¼ miles N. 25° E. of Middlebury and 1 ¾ miles east of Beldens. (See map of Middlebury quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.)
“A body of white marble about 60 feet thick is exposed, striking north and dipping 50° E. Muddy Branch here flows through a small gorge along the strike and there seems to be a syncline between the stream and the quarry.”
“The abandoned quarry of the Middlebury Marble Co. is 2 miles east-southeast of Middlebury, a little west of the west limit of the basal dolomite and about 1,100 feet east of the road to East Middlebury in Middlebury Township. (See map of Middlebury quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) This quarry has been idle for over 28 years. It measures about 100 feet east to west.
“The following section is exposed, beginning on the west:
Section of marble beds at Middlebury Marble Co.’s quarry.
Calcite marble, bluish - 6 feet
milk-white - 9 feet
white, translucent - 14 feet
fine grained, faintly pink - 17 feet
white (like 14-foot bed) - 22 feet
(Total) - 68 feet
“The marble of the 9-foot bed (specimens D, XXII, 410, a and c, from a prospect 250 feet farther south) is a calcite marble of milk-white color and of regular texture, with grain diameter of 0.02 to 0.37, mostly 0.12 to 0.25 millimeter, and thus of grade 3 (fine). It contains rare quartz grains and spherules of pyrite. The texture of this rock is that of a normal marble and very different both in grade and in grain arrangement from the section obtained of Brandon Italian, as will be noticed by comparing figures 24 and 22. An estimate by the Rosiwal method shows its average grain diameter to be 0.11 millimeter.
“The structural relations are not clear. The marble, however, probably belongs not far from either the dolomite series or the intermediate dolomite. The dip on the west side of the quarry is 40° –50° W. about 600 feet east of the quarry a whitish dolomite and very quartzose beds strike N. 10° W. and the dip about 72° E. At an old disused quarry a mile north marble about 40 feet thick strikes north and dips 45° E.; and at another opening a quarter of a mile west of this one white marble about 70 feet thick, with muscovitic streaks, strikes N. 10° E. and dips 90°.”
“The same dolomite marbles crop out between the two quarries last described, on the farm of L. O. Chapin, of Bristol, Vt. ”
“The Monkton quarry of the Columbian Marble Co. is 0.6 mile S. 32° W. of the Vermont Marble Co.’s quarry, on the south side of the east-west crossroads in the same township. The opening is about 20 feet square and 5 to 10 feet deep and has been long disused.
“The marble is identical with that of the Vermont Marble Co.’s quarry. The weathered parts have a muddy gray color. The beds strike north, dip 45° E., and show many minor fractures along the bedding.”
“The Jimmo prospect is in Bristol Township 1 ¼ miles west-southwest of the Bristol bench mark. (See map of Middlebury quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) Owner, Harry Jimmo, Bristol, Vt.
“The marble (specimen D, XXXI, 67, a) is a quartzose hematitic dolomite marble of deep-pink color, differing from that of the Monkton quarries and prospects by its less conspicuous mottling and deeper shade. It has films of sericite. The thickness exposed is 8 feet.”
“The dolomite of Monkton has been described on page 45. It belongs apparently to the dolomite which underlies the calcite marbles. The only quarry operated in recent years was idle in 1910.
“The dolomite of Monkton has been described on page 45. It belongs apparently to the dolomite which underlies the calcite marbles. The only quarry operated in recent years was idle in 1910.
The Monkton quarry of the Vermont Marble Co. is at the west foot of the so-called Hogback Mountains, really the west flank of the Green Mountain range, about 1 ½ miles north-northeast of East Monkton and 6 miles N. 10° W. of Bristol, in Monkton Township, Addison County. (See map of Middlebury quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) The opening is 30 by 15 feet and 5 feet deep. The quarry is not now used, the company having withdrawn the marble from the market.
“The beds exposed consist of about 270 feet of dolomite. The marble, “Ruvaro” (specimens D, XXXI, 63, a fresh; d, weathered), is a mottled pink and white quartzose hematitic dolomite marble. It contains thin beds of sericite and quartz (specimens D, XXXI, 63, b, c). Descriptions of these will be found on page 45.
“The dolomite strikes N. 25° -30° W., dips 30° -40° W., and is crossed by slip cleavage dipping 40° E. and in places by close east-west joints dipping steeply to the north. About 315 feet east of the dolomite is an outcrop of quartzite, slightly calcareous in places, striking N. 15° W. and dipping at a steep angle to the west, crossed by cleavage dipping 60° E. A little farther south, at the head of a brook flowing southward, dolomite and quartzite are in contact, both rocks for the depth of a foot dipping steeply to the east, whether by faulting or minor overturned folding is not evident.
“This marble was polished by the company and sold for decorative use.”
C. P. Gill & Co.,
Manufacturers of all kinds of
Monumental and Cemetery Work.
From the best Dark, Medium and Light Barre Granite. Orders filled promptly Work guaranteed to be first class. Always get our estimates before placing orders.Montpelier, VT.
“Several tracings of some exceedingly fine monumental work in Barre granite have been received from the Capitol Granite Co. of Montpelier, Vt. They represent work shipped and in process of construction and indicate that the firm named have been among the favored ones this season in securing large contracts. During the month of June they shipped a solders monument to a southern city, on which was some very elaborate carving. The base of the monument was 20 feet square and total height 65 feet. There were several very heavy stones in the job, notably the spire which was 27’ in length, 3’ 4” square at butt and 2’ 8” at top, shipping weight 31 tons. A copy of the St. Martins Cross now being made by this company, has the following dimensions: lower base 9’ 0” x 9’ 0” x 4’ 0”; second base 7’ 8” x 7’ 8” x 2’ 3”; the cross is 2’ 9” square at base, 6’ across the arms and 22’ high, it is being finished in the best possible manner and will e…(cannot read word) credit to the manufactures. A duplicate of ex-president Harrison’s family monument, a large octagon shaft monument and other big jobs are under the hammer here.”
“The Capital Granite Co. was organized in 1887. The firm is composed of Thomas Eagan and Daniel McQueeney. They manufacture from Barre granite monumental, statuary, and all kinds of cemetery work; also ornamental building work to order. They employ twenty skilled workmen, and produce work of fine quality and finish. Their office and shops are located at the new granite sheds on Barre street, and on the C.V.R.R. Their polishing machine is run by a motor driven by Berlin water.”
“Weston & Smith are successors to H. Cobb in the manufacture of marble and granite. Mr. Cobb established the business in 1866, continued until his death in 1886, when the present firm purchased the business….”
"The Cooperative Granite Company, Montpelier, Vt., intend to commence January 1, on an immense granite shed suitable for cutting, polishing and working up the famous Ascutney granite. Several analyses of this granite have been made during the past few weeks, all of which tend to show that it is the most endurable species of granite in the world. They will give employment to nearly 200 men."
“Hiram B. Cross, manufacturer of monumental and statue granite, has shops near the depot of the M. & W.R.R.R.R.”
Dillon & Haley,
Manufacturers of Barre Granite Monuments and General Cemetery Work.
Estimates cheerfully given. Correspondence Solicited.
Barre Street, Montpelier, Vermont
“Edwards, White & Co. (Thomas Edwards, George E. White, and John D. Williams), granite manufacturers, are located at the new granite sheds, in Montpelier. This company was formed June 1, 1888. They manufacture every thing in the line of granite work from Barre granite, with fine carving a specialty, and are doing a wholesale and retail business, giving employment to fifteen skilled workmen.”
Fraser & Broadfoot, Montpelier, Vt.
Manufacturers of all kinds of Monumental Work
From Best Light and Dark Barre Granite. Estimates cheerfully given.
Fraser & Craven
The granite firm of Fraser & Craven, at Montpelier,
has been dissolved, and the business will be continued by E. E. Craven.
Goodenough & Swasey
Manufacturers of Light and Dark Barre Granite Monuments and General Cemetery Work.
Montpelier, VT. - Correspondence Solicited.
H. J. Bertoli & Co. Sculptors, Montpelier, VT.
Statuary and General Carving. Portraits a Specialty. Best New England Granites. We use Pneumatic Tools.
Montpelier, Vermont - Hughes Granite and Quarry Company Records, 1907 – 1932, Offices in Montpelier, Vermont, Quarry in Adamant, Calais, Vermont, presented on the Vermont Historical Society Online web site. (The following quote is used with the permission of the Vermont Historical Society.)
(Hughes Granite and Quarry Company Records, 1907-1932 Description (in PDF format) - Vermont Historical Society Library - MSA 85 Box Inventory)
“This collection contains the papers of the Hughes Granite and Quarry Company, established in Clyde, Ohio, in 1907. In 1920 the business opened offices in Montpelier, Vermont, and a took over a quarry in the village of Adamant, Calais, Vermont, formerly known as the Whittier Quarry Company owned by Charles Whittier. In 1924 the Hughes Company was succeeded by the Adamant Quarry Company owned by the former stockholders of Hughes, including C. S. Whittier.”
Jones & Gale, Montpelier, Vermont.
Manufacturers of Barre Granite Monuments of all kinds, Send for Estimates.
See: Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont – T. J. Kelleher & Co. Granite Manufacturers below.
Manufacturers of Fine Monumental Work of any description. The celebrated Dark Barre Granite our specialty. Quarries at Barre.
“P. Roberts & Son’s granite shops are located on Taylor street. They commenced business in 1881, and manufacture every thing from Barre granite in the line of monumental work, curbing, and posts, giving employment to from eight to ten skilled workmen. They turn out work of excellent quality and fine finish.”
Perry M’F’G Co., Montpelier, Vt.
Manufacturers of The Latest Improved Polishing Machine.
For ease of handling, wide range of adjustment, quality or material, thorough construction - it has no rival. Send for descriptive Cat. fully explaining our valuable improvements. As for prices.
The Practical Granite Co., Montpelier, Vermont.
Manufacturers of High Grade Granite Work.
Light, Medium and Dark Barre Granite.
Rough Stock Furnished to Order. Exclusively Wholesale Send for Estimates.
R. C. Bowers Granite Co., Montpelier, Vt.
Sole Agents in United States and Canada
For David Mowat's Scotch
Chilled Iron or Shot.
“The R. C. Bowers Granite Co. of Montpelier, Vt., are sending out some excellent half tone prints of views of the Vermont Quarry Co.’s quarries at Barre, Vermont. The product of these quarries is known as ‘Bowers No. 4 granite’ and it was used exclusively in the exhibit made at the World’s Fair by the Bowers Granite Co. The views received show that some large stone is being taken out and there is plenty of it in sight. It is a dark granite, takes a good polish, and dealers who are not acquainted with it may hear something to their advantage by corresponding with the R. C. Bowers Granite Co. regarding it.”
Robert M. Fraser
The polishing mills cutting sheds of Robert M. Fraser, at Montpelier, Vt., were totally destroyed by fire. They contained considerable finished stock. The loss is $12,000, with only $3,000 insurance.
See: Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont – P. Roberts & Son Granite Shops above.
“Merrill Russell has shops for the manufacture of granite work near the Central Vermont depot.Mr. Russell commenced the business in Barre, in 1881, where he continued until 1886, when he removed his shops to Montpelier, where he is now engaged. He employs ten skilled workmen, and is turning out manufactured goods of fine finish and superior quality of the famous Barre granite, which in quality is inferior to none in the world. He executes every thing in granite, with monuments and statues a specialty.”
Ryle & McCormick, of Montpelier, Vt., have received a contract for a large monument for New Jersey. It will have a total height of 45 feet, and will weigh 85 tons.
Staples Granite Co., Montpelier, Vermont.
Manufacturers of High Grade Granite Work.
Light, Medium and Dark Granite. Send for Estimates.
“Sabin Slate Co. – Montpelier has one of the best slate quarries in the United States. The quarry is owned and operated by the Sabin Slate Co., which was organized in 1882, and has a capital of $40,000. The quarry is within a half-mile of the postoffice, and at the crossing of the Central Vermont and Montpelier & Wells River railroads. The company owns forty acres of land, and employs thirty-five men. The vein of slate is 200 feet thick. The product of the quarry is unfading black slate, and it is prepared for roofing purposes entirely. The Sabin slate is very hard and durable, and contains no flint or other foreign substances. Every modern device for successfully working the quarry has been procured by the company.”
“Stafford, Lynch & Co. Granite Co. is located at the new granite sheds, in the village of Montpelier, convenient to the Central Vermont and Montpelier & Wells River railroads. This company was formed April 1, 1888. The members of the firm are Thomas Stafford, Thomas F. Lynch, and Daniel C. Carey. They manufacture from Barre granite all kinds of work for the wholesale and retail trade, and give employment to twenty-six men.”
T. J. Kelleher & Co., Montpelier, Vt.
Manufacturers and Quarriers.
Best Light and Dark Barre a Specialty. We do our own polishing, etc.
“T. J. Kelleher & Co., manufacturers of granite, have shops near the M. & W.R.R.R. depot, where they manufacture ornamental, building, monumental, and statuary work.”
“Weston & Smith are successors to H. Cobb in the manufacture of marble and granite. Mr. Cobb established the business in 1866, continued until his death in 1886, when the present firm purchased the business. They manufacture all kinds of monumental work, in marble and granite, also curbing, posts, etc. They employ skilled workmen, and turn out work of high grade.”
“The Wetmore & Morse Granite Co. was organized under the laws of Vermont, January 29, 1889. The capital is $80,000. The directors f the company are Albert Johonnott, W. E. Adams, F. A. Dwinell, Fred E. Smith, F. M. Corry, H. H. McIntire, and H. H. Wetmore. The officers are Albert Johonnott, president; W. E. Adams, vice-president; F. A. Dwinell, secretary; and F. L. Eaton, treasurer. This company owns about twenty-six acres of quarry in Barre, and the first one opened there. In the early spring the company intends to erect spacious granite sheds in Montpelier, employ 100 men, and manufacture building granite, statuary, and all kinds of cemetery work, and will also deal in rough granite.”
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Moretown….”
John Brechin, Wholesale Manufacture of Granite and Statuary
My works is on the line of the Boston & Maine R. R. one of the best stopping points in New England. Estimates cheerfully given on work you want to buy.
Barre, Quincy, Hardwick, Concord, Scotch, Swede, Pear, Norwegian.
The Packer Quarry was located in the “eastern part of Newark, on the west side of a ridge between Center or Island Pond on the west and the East Branch of the Passumpsic on the east. This ridge lies north of Burke Mountain and southeast of Ball Hill. there is a marked east-west sag in the ridge. The opening is a little north of the sage on a gently sloping bench below the steeper part of the ridge and 363 feet above Center Pond, about east-southeast from its south side.”
Accessory minerals: Magnetite, pyrite, titanite, and allanite. Secondary minerals: Kaolin, a white mica, epidote, and calcite.
The Packer Quarry had been operated by the Newark Granite Company (address H. D. Packer) of West Burke, Vermont. At the time of the 1923 report, the quarry had been idle since 1915. The granite from the quarry is a light pinkish-gray color with a coarse texture. The nearest railroad at that time was 8 miles away.
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Newfane….”
“Of the beds named those in Grafton and Athens are stated to have been longest worked and to have produced the most stone. The beds lie in gneiss. The quarries were profitably worked as early as 1820…The bed at Newfane occurs in connection with serpentine, and is some half a mile in length but not less than 12 rods in width at its northern extremity. The soap-stone and serpentine are strangely mixed, and the general course of the bed being like that of an irregular vein of granite in limestone.”
“Red Slate Near Granville
“On the property of Mrs. Richard Sennett, about two miles northeast of North Granville, a valuable deposit of red slate has been discovered. It is located on what is known as the ‘Hatch Hill Vein.’ Mrs. Sennett is the mother of William and Michael Sennett, of this city, and James Sennett of Poultney, formerly of Glens Falls.”
See: Northfield (near), Washington County, Vermont – the Northfield Black Slate Company (circa 1899) below.
| (colorized postcard photograph; early 1900s; unmailed. |  |
Cannon Bros., Northfield, VT.
Manufacturers of all kinds of Barre Granite Monumental Work.
Correspondence solicited.
Cross Brothers, Northfield, Vt., Manufacturers and Importers.
Better shape Than Ever.
These words describe our facilities for manufacturing granite. We now have everything in good working order and will handle work promptly.
Our “Paste” for removing Iron Rust etc. is having a large sale and is pronounced by dealers the best preparation every made for cleaning granite.
“The firm of F. L. Howe & Co. was formed in 1881. They have shops on Main street, where they are manufacturing monumental marble mork (sic), and dealing in granite monuments, curbing, etc.”
See: Northfield, Washington County, Vermont – the F. L. Howe & Co. (circa 1899) above.
See: Northfield (near), Washington County, Vermont – the Northfield Black Slate Company (circa 1899) below.
“The Northfield Black Slate Company was incorporated in July, 1885, with George Nichols, president; C. A. Edgerton, clerk and treasurer; and A. E. Denny, Manager. The quarry is located near Northfield village, and was opened about twenty years ago by parties from Boston under the firm name of ‘Adams Slate and Tile Co.,’ which continued the business about fifteen years, when it was succeeded by the Hillside Slate Co. This firm continued the business until the property passed to the present company. The production is now about 3,000 squares per year. For depth and durability of color, softness and tenacity of texture, this slate is unsurpassed by any in America.”
“Charles D. Sawyer, a marble worker, has been engaged in the business the last eight years in Northfield, where he still does all kinds of monumental marble work.”
"Pittsford, Vt., – a new marble quarry will be opened by Gates & Co. on the F. Howland farm, near the Venetian marble works."
“The Florence No. 1 is a new opening, southwest of the now disused ‘Valley quarry,’ about three-fourths of a mile west of Florence station, in Pittsford Township. (See Pl. I.) It is 90 feet east to west by 70 feet across. One-half of it is 112 feet deep and the other 70 feet. In May, 1911, the quarry passed into the hands of the Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, Vt.
“The marble beds exposed and prospected here, beginning above and on the west, are as follows:
Section of marble beds at Florence No. 1 quarry.
Light mottled marble including a 9-foot bed of darkish gray, ‘mountain dark’ - 234 feet
White marble - 18 feet
Intermediate dolomite - 254 feet
“The position of the beds is thus above the intermediate dolomite and corresponds to that of the beds in the Florence 2 quarry. (See p. 92.)
“The marble, ‘Florence No. 1,’ is a calcite marble of light bluish-gray color with fine dark-gray streaks (graphitic and dolomitic beds) parallel to the bedding. On the bed face these dolomite beds appear as an irregular mottling. It is practically identical with “Florence No. 2,” described on page 129. Its texture is medium (grade 4), but it is regarded as slightly coarser than ‘Pittsford Italian.’
“The beds strike N. 25° W. and dip 70° –75 ° ENE. The marble and the intermediate dolomite east of it both belong to the east limb of an eastward-inclined syncline. Therefore as the quarry is deepened the underlying intermediate dolomite should eventually be struck, although no indications of dolomite or of any turning of the beds have been found at a depth of 70 feet below the bottom of the quarry. Conspicuous joints dip to the southwest at low angles. Percolating water has by means of its content of carbonic acid formed a series of caves, first along the bedding and then along these joints, as shown in Plate XVII. One of these caves 100 feet below the surface is 10 feet high. These caves occasion much inconvenience in adjusting the cutting machines. An east-west compressive strain has been noticed at this quarry.”
“The Florence No. 2 quarry is 0.9 mile southwest of Fowler station and 1 ¼ miles nearly west of Pittsford station, in Pittsford Township. ( See Pl. I and map of Castleton quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) The quarry measures 70 feet north to south by 45 feet across, and is 63 feet in depth. In May, 1911, it passed into the hands of the Vermont Marble Co.
“The marble, “Florence No. 2” (specimens D, XXXI, 27, a, rough; b, polished), is a calcite marble of very light bluish-gray color with whitish and dark-gray (graphitic and dolomitic) streaks and spots parallel to the bedding. It is uneven in texture, with grain diameter, in the calcitic parts, of 0.075 to 1, mostly 0.12 to 0.37 millimeter, and is thus of grade 4 (medium). The very irregular dolomitic lenses, which in thin section are not sharply separated from the calcite ground, have a grain diameter mostly of 0.05 to 0.25 millimeter and are thus of grade 3 (fine). The dolomite is untwinned and some of the grains have rhombic outlines. Associated with it are a few small quartz grains and muscovite scales. Minute black grains (probably graphite) occur throughout, but more abundantly in the dolomitic lenses, and also a little pyrite. The marble takes a high polish, but the dolomite mottling shows in minute relief on the polished face.
“The general structure here is shown in section I, Plate III. The beds strike N. 25° W. and dip 82° N. 65° E. The west wall shows very irregular jointing. (See fig. 19.)”
“The Florentine quarry is at the east foot of the Taconic Range, 1 ½ miles N. 72° E. of Biddie Knob and 1 ¼ miles west of Florence station, in Pittsford Township. (See Pl. I and map of Castleton quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) The quarry, a new opening a little west of a disused quarry, measures about 200 feet north to south by 100 feet across and is 100 feet deep in one half and 42 feet in the other. In May, 1911, it passed into the hands of the Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, Vt.
“The marble beds exposed and prospected here include 150 feet of graphitic marbles immediately underlying the base of the schist of the Taconic Range and thus belong to the upper graphitic series. In the quarry there is an irregular bed of graphitic untwinned dolomite veined with quartz and white calcite.
“The marble, ‘Florentine blue’ (specimens D, XXXI, 24, c, rough; d, polished), is a graphitic calcite marble of dark bluish-gray color, with fine very dark and light gray unplicated bands, and of even, regular texture, with grain diameter of 0.05 to 0.75, mostly 0.12 to 0.25 millimeter, and thus of grade 3 (fine). It abounds in minute particles of graphite and contains rather plentiful pyrite up to 0.12 millimeter in diameter and rare grains of quartz. This stone takes a very high polish without any protuberances.
“The marble strikes N. 25° W. and dips 60° E. at the surface of the quarry, turning 70° at the bottom. In the disused quarry about 200 feet farther east the dip is at a low angle to the west. At the contact with overlying schist 60 feet west of the quarry the schist is graphitic and has a cleavage foliation striking N. 5° W. and dipping 20° –25° E. The marble at the contact curves from 90° to steep west, and the bedding of the schist, obscured by cleavage, is presumably parallel to it. The marble beds belong to the east limb of a syncline. Between the quarry and the schist contact the marble beds, recently divested of their protective covering of till, are highly glaciated, as shown in Plate XV, B.”
“The Hollister quarries are 1 ¼ miles northwest of Florence station and half a mile west of Florence Cross Roads, in Pittsford Township. ( See Pl. I and map of Castleton quadrangle, U. S. Geol. Survey.) The quarries comprise two openings on the same beds–the southern one, the original Hollister quarry, which at the surface measures 150 feet north to south by 25 feet across, but at the bottom, 316 feet down, is 189 by 125 feet, and a new one, 200 feet north, the Valley quarry, which measures 100 feet north to south by 25 feet across at the surface, but 125 feet at the bottom, 85 feet down. From the south end of the original quarry a tunnel, 60 feet wide and 40 feet high, has been drilled 70 feet west.
“Operator, Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, Vt.
“The marble beds exposed and prospected here, given in more detail on page 91, comprise, beginning on the west and above:
Section of marble beds at Hollister quarry.
Light bluish-gray marbles - 90 feet
Clouded marble - 16 feet
‘Blue vein’ - 14 feet
Alternating clouded, muscovitic, and light bluish-gray marbles - 102 feet
(Total) - 222 feet
“This set of beds apparently lies a little above the intermediate dolomite. (See p. 93.)
“The marble, “Pittsford Valley ” (specimens D, XIX, 148, a, rough, from bed A; and D, XXXI, 16, a polished), is a calcite marble of light bluish-gray color with little medium to dark gray (graphitic and dolomitic plicated beds which on the bed surface appear as irregular mottling. Its texture is uneven. The grain diameter in the calcitic parts is 0.05 to 0.75, mostly 0.12 to 0.37 millimeter, and thus of grade 4 (medium). In the dolomitic parts the grain diameter is 0.02 to 0.25, mostly 0.07 to 0.12 millimeter, and thus of grade 2 (very fine). Minute black particles (probably graphite) occur throughout but are more plentiful in the dolomitic parts, which also contain very little pyrite and muscovite. The marble takes a high polish, but the dolomitic mottling projects in very minute relief.
“A specimen of bed K (D, XIX, 148, c, rough) is a calcite marble of light bluish-gray color without mottling and of regular, even texture, with grain diameter of 0.05 to 0.87, mostly 0.12 to 0.5 millimeter, and thus also of grade 4 (medium) but a trifle coarser than that of bed A. (See fig. 21.) The average grain diameter of the calcitic parts, determined by the Rosiwal method, is 0.1484 millimeter.
“In general the marbles of these quarries are more bluish than those of the Proctor and Riverside quarries.
“The beds strike N. 5° W. and dip 80° E. to 90°. Although the beds at a depth of 316 feet are still vertical, they will be found eventually to be underlain by the dolomite, which crops out east of the quarry. The character of the folds here is not clear. There are four sets of joints–set a, strike N. 80° E., vertical, spaced 2 to 5 feet for a distance of 50 feet between the two openings; set b, strike east to west, dip 10° N., few, spaced 3 to 20 feet; set c, same strike, dip 55° N., spaced 3 to 50 feet; set d, same strike, dip 10° –15° S. The quarry is at the east foot of a marble cliff 100 feet high. On the east side of the northern opening the marble at the surface is not over 5 feet thick. In drilling eastward at a depth of 75 feet the marble was found to extend but 25 feet. It is possible that the beds have suffered considerable erosion at this point.
“Specimens: Champlain apartment house, Washington, D. C.; fourteen columns 29 feet 9 inches long and from 2 feet 10 inches to 3 feet 4 inches in diameter in Curtis Publishing Co.’s building, Philadelphia. These columns were cut parallel to the bed and show small grayish plicated dolomitic beds. (See also Pl. VI, B.)”
“The Hollister quarries are 1 ¼ miles northwest of Florence station and half a mile west of Florence Cross Roads, in Pittsford Township. (See Pl. I and map of Castleton quadrangle, U.S. Geol. Survey.) The quarries comprise two openings on the same beds–the southern one, the original Hollister quarry, which at the surface measures 150 feet north to south by 25 feet across, but at the bottom, 316 feet down, is 189 by 125 feet, and a new one, 200 feet north, the Valley quarry, which measures 100 feet north to south by 25 feet across at the surface, but 125 feet at the bottom, 85 feet down. From the south end of the original quarry a tunnel, 60 feet wide and 40 feet high, has been drilled 70 feet west.
“Operator, Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, Vt.
“The marble beds exposed and prospected here, given in more detail on page 91, comprise, beginning on the west and above:
Section of marble beds at Hollister quarry.
Light bluish-gray marbles - 90 feet
Clouded marble - 16 feet
‘Blue vein’ - 14 feet
Alternating clouded, muscovitic, and light bluish-gray marbles - 102 feet
(Total) - 222 feet
“This set of beds apparently lies a little above the intermediate dolomite. (See p. 93.)
“The marble, “Pittsford Valley” (specimens D, XIX, 148, a, rough, from bed A; and D, XXXI, 16, a polished), is a calcite marble of light bluish-gray color with little medium to dark gray (graphitic and dolomitic plicated beds which on the bed surface appear as irregular mottling. Its texture is uneven. The grain diameter in the calcitic parts is 0.05 to 0.75, mostly 0.12 to 0.37 millimeter, and thus of grade 4 (medium). In the dolomitic parts the grain diameter is 0.02 to 0.25, mostly 0.07 to 0.12 millimeter, and thus of grade 2 (very fine). Minute black particles (probably graphite) occur throughout but are more plentiful in the dolomitic parts, which also contain very little pyrite and muscovite. The marble takes a high polish, but the dolomitic mottling projects in very minute relief.
“A specimen of bed K (D, XIX, 148, c, rough) is a calcite marble of light bluish-gray color without mottling and of regular, even texture, with grain diameter of 0.05 to 0.87, mostly 0.12 to 0.5 millimeter, and thus also of grade 4 (medium) but a trifle coarser than that of bed A. (See fig. 21.) The average grain diameter of the calcitic parts, determined by the Rosiwal method, is 0.1484 millimeter.
“In general the marbles of these quarries are more bluish than those of the Proctor and Riverside quarries.
“The beds strike N. 5° W. and dip 80° E. to 90°. Although the beds at a depth of 316 feet are still vertical, they will be found eventually to be underlain by the dolomite, which crops out east of the quarry. The character of the folds here is not clear. There are four sets of joints–set a, strike N. 80° E., vertical, spaced 2 to 5 feet for a distance of 50 feet between the two openings; set b, strike east to west, dip 10° N., few, spaced 3 to 20 feet; set c, same strike, dip 55° N., spaced 3 to 50 feet; set d, same strike, dip 10° –15° S. The quarry is at the east foot of a marble cliff 100 feet high. On the east side of the northern opening the marble at the surface is not over 5 feet thick. In drilling eastward at a depth of 75 feet the marble was found to extend but 25 feet. It is possible that the beds have suffered considerable erosion at this point.
“Specimens: Champlain apartment house, Washington, D. C.; fourteen columns 29 feet 9 inches long and from 2 feet 10 inches to 3 feet 4 inches in diameter in Curtis Publishing Co.’s building, Philadelphia. These columns were cut parallel to the bed and show small grayish plicated dolomitic beds. (See also Pl. VI, B.)”
| (postcard photograph, no postmark, early 1900s) |  |
“An east-west trench dug in 1900 across the low ridge immediately west of the site of the Florence No. 2 quarry exposed a handsome white marble interbedded with a coarser one of medium bluish gray banded with black (specimen D, XIX, 202, b), containing a few scales of biotite.”
“The Turner quarry is less than 1,000 feet northeast of the Florence No. 2 and about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Florence station, in Pittsford Township. (See Pl. I.) The opening, which is of recent date, is about 500 feet north of the Central Vermont Marble Co.’s quarry, which was operated in 1900 but is now disused. It is about 140 feet north to south by 70 feet across and 86 feet deep in one half and 49 feet in the other. It has a tunnel at the south end, 43 feet below the rock surface, 70 feet wide, and extending 35 feet to the south.
“In May, 1911, this quarry passed into the hands of the Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, Vt. The marble exposed in the quarry and cropped out on both sides of it consists of the following beds, beginning at the top and west:
Section of marble beds at Turner quarry.
Intermediate dolomite - 242 feet
White mottled marbles - 207 feet
Dolomite series. - 449 feet
“Its position is therefore identical with that of the marble in the Proctor quarry (p. 127).
“The marble, ‘Pittsford Italian’ (specimens D, XXXI, 21, c, rough; f, polished; a, rough and polished), is a calcite marble of slightly bluish-white color, with finely plicated beds and irregular mottlings of medium gray (graphitic dolomite). One of these little beds is shown in figure 20. They are from half an inch to 3 inches apart. The calcitic part has a grain diameter of 0.05 of 0.87, mostly 0.12 to 0.37 millimeter, and is thus of grade 4 (medium). The grain diameter of the little dolomite beds and lenses (not crossed by the sections obtained) is probably, like that in the “Pittsford Italian,” mostly 0.05 of 0.25 millimeter; and these are thus of grade 3 (fine). The general texture is irregular and uneven. There are very minute black particles (graphite?), a few of pyrite, and rare small quartz grains. The marble takes a high polish, but the darker dolomitic passages project in very minute relief on the polished face.
“The beds strike N. 25° –30° W. and dip 75° ENE. The dolomite on the west strikes N. 20° W. and dips 70° N. 70° E. Both the underlying and overlying dolomite and the intervening marble belong to the east limb of an eastward-inclined syncline, as shown in section I, Plate III. The economic significance of this relation is that eventually, as the quarry deepens, the underlying dolomite will be encountered.”
“Vermont. - Most of the steatite of this State is found on the east side of the Green Mountains and near the eastern line of the talcose slate formation, beds of it extending nearly the entire length of the State. The rock occurs usually associated with serpentine and hornblende. The beds are not continuous and have, as a rule, a great thickness in comparison with their length. It not infrequently happens that several isolated outcrops occur on the same line of strata, sometimes several miles apart, and in many cases alternating with beds of dolomitic lime stone that are scattered along with them.
“At least sixty beds of this rock occur in the State in the towns of…Plymouth….”
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