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San Francisco - City and County and San Francisco Bay


  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California (circa 1886) – Serpentine – Excerpt from Report of the United States National Museum Under the Direction of the Smithsonian Institutions For the Year Ending June 30, 1886, Chapter entitled, "The Collection of Building and Ornamental Stones in The U. S. National Museum: A Hand-book and Catalogue," By George P. Merrill, Curator, Department Lithology and Physical Geology," pp. 285-291.

    "California – Serpentine. – Inexhaustible quantities of serpentine of a deep green or yellowish color occur in the region round about San Francisco, and often in such situations as to be easily available, as at the head of Market street. So far as observed none of the material is of such a quality as to render it of value for ornamental work, while its gloomy color renders it equally objectionable for purposes of general…."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California (1895) - Stone Concerns Represented in San Francisco circa 1895. The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.…”

    “…W. H. McCormick, Geo. H. Jones, H. O. Brower, and others make up the list of representative dealers who sell the best monumental work on the coast.”

    (The following companies are mentioned in the article. For more detail on these companies, see the “San Francisco Quarries” section according to the firm name.)

    Jones Bros. & Co. of Boston; The Vermont Marble Company of Proctor, Vermont; W. S. Brown & Co.; Daniel Sheerin & Sons; Clarke & Lloyd; Metropolitan Marble Works, A. Paltenghi & Co., proprietors; F. A. Maestretti, proprietor of the Laurel Hill Marble Works; and W. H. McCormick, Geo. H. Jones, and H. O. Brower.

  • San Francisco County Mineral Industry (circa 1919) – Excerpt from California Mineral Production for 1919, Bulletin No. 88, by Walter W. Bradley, California State Mining Bureau, 1920.

    Area: 43 square miles.
    Population: 506,676 (1920 census)

    "Surprising as it may appear at first glance, San Francisco County is listed among the mineral producing sections of the state, actual production consisting of crushed rock, sand and gravel. Small quantities of various valuable mineral substances are found here, including cinnabar, gypsum, lignite, and magnesite, none, however, in paying quantities.

    "In fifty-third place, commercial production for 1919 was as follows:

    (Headings for the information below are: Substance, Amount, and Value.)

    Stone, miscellaneous, ---, $65,541.


San Francisco County – List of Stone Quarries, Etc.*

(* Please note this list does not include all of the sand or gravel quarries in the City and County of San Francisco.)

  • San Francisco, California - the A. Leschen & Sons Rope Co. Branch Office (Advertisement)  (from Stone Magazine, January 1902, Vol. XXIV, No. 1, pp. 73)

    A Leschen & Sons Rope Co. of St. Louis, MO.

    Branch Offices:

    92 Centre St., New York, N.Y.

    137 East Lake St., Chicago, Ill.

    85 Fremont St., San Francisco, Cal.

    Leschen Co’s. Wire Rope Tramway at Cement Works, Ogelsby, Ills.

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - A. Battenghia  (Marble Yard)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1114)  “Battenghia, A., marble yard - SE cor Devisadero and Stevenson.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Berger-Carter Company, Pacific States Agents for H. G. Kotten, Manufacturer, New York City, New York  (Advertisement from The Monumental News, Vol XVIII, No. 3, March 1906, pp. 199)

    The “Kotten” Junior Surfacer
    H. G. Kotten, Manufacturer, 120 Liberty Street, New York City
    Foster & Hosler, Chicago, Illinois, Central States Agents
    Berger-Carter Co., San Francisco Cal., Pacific States Agents

  • The “Kotten” Junior Surfacer Advertisement, Berger-Carter Company, Pacific States Agents for H. G. Kotten, Manufacturer, New York City, New York  (from The Monumental News, March 1906, pp. 199) The “Kotten” Junior Surfacer Advertisement, Berger-Carter Company, Pacific States Agents for H. G. Kotten, Manufacturer, New York City, New York (from The Monumental News, March 1906, pp. 199)
    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Berger-Carter Company  (“Kotten” Junior Surfacer advertisement from The Monumental News, Vol. XIX, No. 2, February 1907, pp. 161)

      H. G. Kotten Co., 120 Liberty St., New York City
      Foster & Hosler, Chicago, Illinois, Central States Agent
      Berger-Carter Co., San Francisco, Cal., Pacific States Agents

      The “Kotten” Junior Surfacer embodies simplicity, durability, efficiency, economy.  We also manufacture crane surfacers, plug drills, baby rock drillers, valve and valveless type carving tools.

    • Berger-Carter Co., San Francisco, Cal., Pacific States Agents for H. G. Kotten Co., New York City, “Kotten” Junior Surfacer advertisement. Berger-Carter Co., San Francisco, Cal., Pacific States Agents for H. G. Kotten Co., New York City, “Kotten” Junior Surfacer advertisement from “The Monumental News,” Feb. 1907, pp. 161
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Charles Bianchi (Marble Works)   (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    "Blue Rock Quarry, at corner of Twenty-sixth and Douglass streets. The stone is a hard, blue-grained, metamorphic sandstone, with a flinty fracture. All machinery has been removed, and the quarry is idle. It was formerly worked by Gray Brothers."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Clarke & Lloyd (stone contractor). The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    “Clarke & Lloyd, a comparatively new firm, contract for every kind of stone work, but monumental and cemetery work is their main line. The granite and marble vault of Mr. James Kitterman, in Holy Cross cemetery, was built by this firm.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – County Jail Quarry (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "County Jail Quarry, on Ocean avenue, between the jail and Ingleside Park. the rock is a hard, gray sandstone, and is used for macadam. It is worked intermittently by the prisoners."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - the Pioneer Stone Business of Patrick W. DILLON

    (See: Benicia, Solano County, California – Patrick W. Dillon, Sandstone Quarry Benicia, Solano County, California - the Pioneer Stone Business, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California)

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Daniel Sheerin & Sons (monument dealer). The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    Daniel Sheerin & Sons is the name of another well known firm. Originally contractors for building stone work, the specialty today is monumental marble and granite, and in their large business they import a great deal of material from Europe and execute some notably fine cemetery work.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Davis & Cowell, Manufacturers and Importers (Cement)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1387)  Classifieds:  Lime, Cement, Hair, Etc. 

    Davis & Cowell
    Manufacturers and Importers of Cave Valley and Marble Valley Lime,
    Rosedale, English Portland, English Roman and Keene’s Cement, Marble Dust,
    Goat and Cattle Hair, Fire Brick, Tile and Clay, Brick Dust, Monterey White Sand.
    211 and 213 Drumm Street, San Francisco

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - P. Degan  (Stone Cutter)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1143)  “Degan, P, stone cutter - Broderick, Ellis and Cemetery ave nr Post.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - J. Dempsey  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1143)  “Dempsey, J, marble cutter - 1069 Market.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Dempsey, J. - 1069 Market.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Duffy Bros.  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1148)  “Duffy Bros, marble works - 23 Tyler.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Duffy Bros. - 23 Tyler.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Eagleston & Devean  (Marble Works)   (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1149)  “Eagleston and Deveau, marble impr, G. Land on Jr. agent, cor Bdwy and Sansom.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Eagleson and Devean, cor Bdwy. and San.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Eureka Stone Manufacturing Co.  (Stone Manufacturer)   (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1152)  “Eureka Stone Manufacturing Co, M. McDonald supt, office 306 Montgomery, Factory 535 Brannan.”

  • (pp. 1209)  “McDonald, M, supt, Eureka Stone Co - 306 Montgomery.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Golden Gate Park Quarries
    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Golden Gate Park – Lily Pond / Old Quarry (The following quotation is from The Story of Golden Gate Park, by Guy and Helen Giffen, San Francisco: 1949, pp. 30.)

      Lily Pond – Old Quarry

      “Between the Main Drive and Middle Drive, west of the Tennis Courts is a small, sheltered lake which was created out of the abandoned rock quarry that once supplied the surfacing for the park’s first drives....”

    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Old Stone Quarry, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Cal.
      (colorized postcard photograph, #26; published by the Ole Cal. Nov. (?) Co., San Francisco, Cal.; postmark 1943) Colorized Postcard of Golden Gate Park Stone Quarry
    • San Francisco - Golden Gate Park – View in the Rock Quarry, San Francisco, California
      (colorized postcard photograph; Pacific Novelty Co., San Francisco & Los Angeles; postmark July 12, 1928)
    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Beautiful California – The Rock Quarry, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
      (colorized postcard photograph, #3509/62750; published by Pacific Novelty Company, Publishers, San Francisco, Cal.; postmark 1909) Colorized Postcard of Golden Gate Park Rock Quarry
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - John Grant  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1166)  “Grant, John, marble works - 129 Townsend.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Gray Brothers Quarry (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Gray Brothers Quarry, at Thirtieth and Castro streets. Admission to quarry was refused."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Gray (Grey) Brothers Stone Quarry (graphic), located on Telegraph Hill circa 1910 (photograph)

     Gray (Grey) Brothers Stone Quarry (graphic), located on Telegraph Hill circa 1910, by Hamilton Henry Dobbin. “Shelving Location: In Photo Album-vault: ** fc917.9461 A3, Vol. I, page 224 center...1 photoprint...This photograph is contained in one of two volumes by Dobbin titled "Album of San Francisco.” “Summary: Text written under photo: "Telegraph Hill 1910 Grey [sic] Brothers Stone Quarry." View shows quarry, on the east side of Telegraph Hill above Sansome, with a few frame dwellings perched on the top. This firm was responsible for numerous houses sliding down the hill. DBCN : VVV-4033 Catalog: Picture Catalog ” (from California State Library search)

    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Gray Brothers Quarry on Telegraph Hill – “Saving Telegraph Hill 1890-1910, Historical Essay,” by Chris Caarlson,  (Includes photograph entitled, “The Gray Brothers Quarry on Telegraph Hill,” Photo: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA)

      “Gray (Grey) Brothers Stone Quarry, located on Telegraph Hill circa 1910,” presented on the FoundSF web site.  (Scroll down to the section entitled, “Good thing we don’t have to worry about mud slides here,” posted January 21, 1010, by Ben Ramirez.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - N. Grossini  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1168)  “Grossini, N, marble works - 1049 Market.”

    (pp. 1133)  “City Marble Works, Grossini & Co - 1049 Market, and Gold bet Montgomery and Sansome.”

    • (Also see:  San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - City Marble Works, Grossini & Co.)
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - James Henderson  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1176)  “Henderson, Jas, marble works, s s Point Lobos ave.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - M. & E. J. Heverin  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1177)  “Heverin, M & E J, steam marble works - 18 Larkin.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Heverin, M & E J - 18 Larkin.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - T. Horgan  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1403 & 1460)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Horgan, T. - 941 Market.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the Inyo Marble Company – Operated dolomite quarries near Lone Pine and Keeler in the Owens Valley, Inyo County, California.

    • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the Inyo Marble Company (from Marin Journal, Vol. 37, No. 10, May 13, 1897, pp. 3) 

      “Additional Local

      “George Madeira informs us that Supervisor Gray, to whom was entrusted the selection of Sonoma county’s donation to the Sloat monument to be erected at Monterey, has chosen a block from the Healdsburg marbles, says the Tribune.  The block has already been taken out and will be shipped to the Inyo Marble company of San Francisco, who will finish it.  Until wanted at the monument, it will be placed on exhibition at the state board of trade rooms, San Francisco. – Petaluma Budget.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California -  J. Lane & Co.  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1195)  “Lane, J and Co, marble workers - 1136 Miss.”

    (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Lane, J. & Co. - 1136 Mission.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Jones Bros. & Co. of Boston (branch of). The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    "Lately Street Quarry. A small quarry face at the corner of Castro and Lately streets. The rock is a hard, siliceous red and yellow chert. Idle when visited."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Laurel Hill Marble Works. The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    F. A. Maestretti, proprietor of the Laurel Hill Marble works, makes a specialty of importing and manufacturing foreign marble and granite monuments and tombs….”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Lewis & Biggio Quarry (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Lewis & Biggio Quarry; R. Biggio and Mr. Lewis, of Colma, owners. On San Jose avenue, just north of Ocean View. The rock, a blue metamorphosed sandstone, is crushed by a jaw crusher at the quarry and is used for concrete purposes. The quarry is worked intermittently."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Los Gatos Lime Co.  (Lime)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1201)  “Los Gatos Lime Co, Kennedy and Spark - 53 Beale.”

  • (pp. 1387)  Classifieds:  Lime, Cement, Hair, Etc.  “Los Gatos Lime Co. - 53 Beale.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – M. & E. J. Heverin  (Marble Works)

    See:  San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – M. & E. J. Heverin  (Marble Works)

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Maloney Quarry (Jasper) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Maloney Quarry. Mr. Ed. Maloney, Builders' Exchange, operates a small quarry on Twin Peaks, at the corner of Seventeenth and Ashbury streets. The rock is a red jasper, and is used for macadam purposes."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – “Marble Works in San Francisco” in 1867 article from the San Francisco Daily Alta, California, April 18, 1867  (Transcribed by Marilyn Demas, 2005)

    (You can read the entire article using the link above, or you can read an excerpt below.)

  • “The principal source from which marble in blocks and slabs is obtained for this market is Italy. We have several quarries in California. The principal – Indian Diggings, El Dorado County – furnishes a very superior article, which is employed for all the purposes that imported marble is used.  Marble is also obtained from Drytown, Amador County; Columbia, Tuolumne County, and Colfax, near Sacramento. Vermont marble, imported from the State of that name, is valued very highly, and commands as large a price as European marble.  The establishment of Messrs. Leon Myers & Co. obtain supplies from Italy, France and Spain, both in the (?c)rude and manufactured form. Mr. J.  Pritchard, one of the owners of the Pioneer Steam Works, is also owner of the quarry at Colfax: and Mr. John Grant manufactures monuments from material drawn from his property at Columbia.  Mr. Brignardello imports directly from Genoa, and supplies those engaged in the trade, almost without exception.  He is about opening a large yard at the foot of Market street, so as to be able to meet the increased demands of the business.  It is only within a very few years that marble works have obtained anything like importance in San Francisco.  Most of the monuments, furniture work, statues, and ornaments were imported….”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - W. H. McCormick  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1209)  “McCormick, W H, marble mantels and headstones - 861 Market.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “McCormick, WH - 861 Market.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – John D. McGilvray & the McGilvray Stone Company / the McGilvray-Raymond Granite Co.
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the McGilvray Raymond Granite Co. (circa 1920s)

    See:  San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the McGilvray Raymond Corporation

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Metropolitan Marble Works. The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    “Another well known firm is the Metropolitan Marble Works, A. Paltenghi & Co., proprietors, who carry a large stock of granite and marble monuments, and besides do a great amount of decorative stone work in private residences. They are now building the Ivancovitch vault in Holy Cross Cemetery.”

    “Not until within the last three or four years was the business of quarrying, or manufacturing marble, engaged in to any extent in California, nearly everything required in this line having been previously imported already made. Much of the material is still (circa 1868) imported from abroad, the most of it from Italy, and worked here to order; though, for several years past, considerable quantities of this stone have been taken from the several quarries now open in this State.

    “The two principal works engaged in manufacturing marble are located in San Francisco, the value of their joint products amounting to about $200,000 yearly. The Pioneer Works, driven by steam, employ on an average thirty-five men - make tombstones, monuments, furniture, etc., and import most of their material. At the other yard, from twelve to fifteen hands are employed, and about the same style of articles are made.

    “The first quarry opened in the State was at Indian Diggings, El Dorado county, in 1857, since which time large quantities have been extracted. It is of the clouded variety, and is much used for memorial purposes. Near Dayton, Amador county, a quarry of white marble, slightly veined, has been opened, and considerable quantities of the stone brought to San Francisco, to be used for building purposes. Near Columbia, Tuolumne county, is another extensive formation of marble, from which large quantities of stone, some of the blocks of great size, have been broken out. In Placer county, contiguous to the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, there is a quarry of variegated black marble, considered valuable. In Solano county, and in many other parts of the State, marble of nearly every description abounds; the only reason that these deposits have not been more extensively worked, being the very limited demand for the article on this coast.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Quimby & Harrelson Quarry (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Quimby & Harrelson Quarry; Quimby & Harrelson, 206 Kearny street, San Francisco, owners. On Amazon street, one block off the Mission road. The rock is a gray, metamorphosed sandstone. Quimby & Harrelson have not taken out any rock for some time, but the prisoners of the county jail have quarried some for macadam."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the Raymond Granite Co. (circa 1920s)

    See:  San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the McGilvray Raymond Corporation

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Rebstock & Brendle  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1240)  “Rebstock and Brendle, marble works - cor Post and Lyon.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Rebstock and Brendle - cor Post and Lyon.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - Ruffino & Co.  (Marble Works)   
  • (See:  San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - L. J. Ruffino & Co.)

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – San Francisco Construction Company Quarry (Chert) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "San Francisco Construction Company, 26 Montgomery street, operates a small quarry on Twin Peaks, on Carmel street. The rock is a red chert, is crushed in a small jaw crusher, and used for macadam."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - the San Francisco Quarries Company - Anson Stiles Blake Business Records, 1897-1938, by Anson Stiles Blake, San Pablo Quarry Company, Blake and Bilger Company, Blake Brothers Company, San Francisco Quarries Company. (Available at the California Historical Society in San Francisco, California.)
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Serpentine at head of Market Street (Serpentine) – Excerpt from Report of the United States National Museum Under the Direction of the Smithsonian Institutions For the Year Ending June 30, 1886, Chapter entitled, "The Collection of Building and Ornamental Stones in The U. S. National Museum: A Hand-book and Catalogue," By George P. Merrill, Curator, Department Lithology and Physical Geology," pp. 285-291.

    "California - Serpentine. – Inexhaustible quantities of serpentine of a deep green or yellowish color occur in the region round about San Francisco, and often in such situations as to be easily available, as at the head of Market street. So far as observed none of the material is of such a quality as to render it of value for ornamental work, while its gloomy color renders it equally objectionable for purposes of general…."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - D. Sheerin  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1254)  “Sheerin, D, marble works - sw cor Broderick and Ellis.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Simons-Fout Company Quarry ("Blue Rock" and Chert) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Simons-Fout Company, Box 153 Builders' Exchange, operates a quarry in connection with its brickyard on the Corbett road. Several faces have been opened in clearing the land for real estate purposes. Blue rock, red chert, and loose sand rock are quarried. The latter is used in making fills on the property, and the former is crushed for macadam, concrete, and rubble purposes. The crusher averages about 150 yards per day."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - J. Sweeney  (Marble Works)  (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)
  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Sweeney, J - 7 Larkin.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Telegraph Hill Quarries (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Telegraph Hill Quarry; Gray Brothers, 1122 Haywards Building, owners. At the corner of Green and Sansome streets. The rock is a highly metamorphosed blue sandstone, and stands with a nearly perpendicular face about 180 feet high. The quarry has been idle for about a year, but the crushing plant is being operated with stone brought in carts from their smaller quarry, of similar rock, at the corner of Chestnut and Montgomery streets. The face of this smaller quarry is nearly 100 feet high.

    "For three quarters of a mile around the foot of Telegraph Hill rock has been quarried for many years, first to fill in the bay, and at present for seawall and other concrete construction about San Francisco."

    • Telegraph Hill Quarry,” presented on the North Beach & Telegraph Hill web site.  (Scroll down to the section entitled, “Good thing we don’t have to worry about mud slides here,” posted January 21, 2010, by Ben Ramirez.)
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Twin Peaks Quarries (Stone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Twin Peaks Quarries. There are numerous small quarries on the slopes of Twin Peaks, which are worked intermittently, as rock is needed in small quantities."

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - the Vermont Marble Company of Proctor, Vermont (branch of). The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    The Vermont Marble Company, of Proctor, Vt., maintains a large branch in San Francisco. In their yards they show some 900 monuments and pieces of work of one kind and the other, and their stock of Italian marble monumental work is the largest on the coast.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – Vulcan Quarry (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "Vulcan Quarry, at the base of Telegraph Hill, on Francisco street, between Kearny and Dupont, in the rear of the Vulcan Iron Works. George P. Wetmore & Co. quarry the rock and haul it in carts to their crushing plant on Lombard street, near Sansome. The stone is the typical blue rock, a metamorphosed sandstone, and is extensively fractured by numerous slips. It is used for rubble, macadam, and concrete purposes."

    • Vulcan Quarry,” presented on the North Beach & Telegraph Hill web site.  (Scroll down to the section entitled, “Good thing we don’t have to worry about mud slides here,” posted January 21, 2010, by Ben Ramirez.)
  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - W. S. Brown & Co. (branch of). The following information is from The Monumental News, August, 1895, Vol. 7, No. 8, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 510.

    “San Francisco Notes.

    “The marble and granite industry has become quite an important feature of Pacific Coast business and besides the local firms, many of the large eastern concerns are represented by branch establishments carrying considerable stock.

    W. S. Brown & Co., whose works are situated on Mission street, make a specialty of interior decorative work in marble and granite. They executed the vestibule in the new Spreckels building on Market street. The floors are of Italian and the ceiling and wainscoting in Vermont marbles. The George Schafer vault in Holy Cross cemetery, built by the firm from its own designs of California granite and Italian marbles, the ‘Marble Market’, the Hobart block and others are examples of the class of work carried out by them. They also do a large amount of cemetery work both in granite and marble.”

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – George P. Wetmore Quarry (Sandstone) (From The Structural and Industrial Materials of California, Bulletin No. 38, California, State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, California, 1906.)

    "George P. Wetmore Quarry. This large quarry is at the corner of Lombard and Montgomery streets. The office is at this quarry. C. A. Wetmore is superintendent. They quarry a blue and gray metamorphosed sandstone, and some altered slaty rock occurs in the slips. The face is about 100 feet high. No blasting is done. The rock is barred down, and large slips often cover the quarry floor with much broken rock. This is sledged and loaded into small skips, which are taken to the crusher by means of an aerial tramway. Rubble, macadam, and concrete rock are produced. A No. 5 Gates crusher averages about 150 yards a day.

    "This firm also operates a small crushing plant at Tenth and Division streets, by using the waste rock from the stone yards of the Colusa Sandstone Company and the McGilvray Sandstone Company."

    • George P. Wetmore Quarry,” presented on the North Beach & Telegraph Hill web site.  (Scroll down to the section entitled, “Good thing we don’t have to worry about mud slides here,” posted January 21, 2010, by Ben Ramirez.)

      According to this web site, “This firm (George P. Wetmore) also operates a small crushing plant at Tenth and Division streets, by using the waste rock from the stone yards of the Colusa Sandstone Company and the McGilvray Sandstone Company.”)

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California – the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company  (1896 Advertisement in The Monumental News, Vol. 8, #3, March 1896, pp. 195)

    Chain Blocks of Paralleled Efficiency
    Write for 28-Page Illustrated Catalogue, giving full explanation of picture here shown.

    The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co.
    Salesrooms:
    New York 84-86 Chambers Street – Chicago, 152-154 Wabash Avenue
    Philadelphia, 1120 Market Street – Boston, 224 Franklin Street
    Buffalo, Builders’ Exchange – San Francisco, Mills Building
    General Offices:  289 Broadway, New York – Works:  Stamford, Conn., Branford, Conn.

  • Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company (1896 Advertisement in The Monumental News, Vol. 8, #3, March 1896, pp. 195)

    Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company  (1896 Advertisement in The Monumental News, Vol. 8, #3, March 1896, pp. 195)

  • San Francisco, San Francisco County, California - D. Zeglio  (Marble Works)   (excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web, by Nancy Pratt Melton)

    (pp. 1283)  “Zeglio, D, Carrara Marble Works - 1328 Howard.”

  • (pp. 1403)  Classifieds:  Marble Works  “Zeglio, D - 1328 Howard.”

  • San Pedro Point – China Camp State Park – Basalt Quarry (Basalt) – Basalt was quarried at San Pedro Point on the shores of San Francisco Bay. (The previous version of this site noted a basalt quarry located within the state park. The present version does not mention it at all.)

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