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Quarries in Maine & Quarry Links, Photographs, and Articles
(Continued)

List of Selections:
  • Vinalhaven - "Fox Islands," Maine - Map showing location of quarries on Vinalhaven and adjacent islands, known collectively as "Fox Islands," Maine. 
    (From Vinalhaven topographic map, U. S. Geol. Survey, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Figure 58, pg. 242.) Map showing location of quarries on Vinalhaven and adjacent islands
  • Vinalhaven, Maine – Ancient Volcanic Rocks on Vinalhaven Island - Historical Granite Industry, presented by the Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Geological Survey, "Geologic Site of the Month - March 1998, Ancient Volcanic Rocks on Vinalhaven Island."  (The quotation below is used with permission.)

    Vinalhaven Island, which lies in Penobscot Bay, can be reached from Rockland by ferry.  A massive body of pink granite underlies the central and southern parts of Vinalhaven.  The granite of Vinalhaven was "quarried in the late 1800's and early 1900's as part of the famous Maine granite industry that provided dimension stone and decorative stonework for large buildings and bridges in Boston, New York, Chicago, and elsewhere."  Today the granite quarries are inactive.

    Vinalhaven and Hurricane Islands - Known as the "Fox Islands," from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    Vinalhaven and the adjacent islands have been known collectively as the Fox Islands, and their granite as "Fox Island Granite."  The granite industry of these islands is distributed over an area about 5 miles from east to west by 4 miles from north to south..Some of them are near the center of Vinalhaven Island.  The Palmer quarry is on the west shore; the Black and Webster quarries are on the east shore; the Sands, Harbor, and Armbrust quarries are on the south shore, near Vinalhaven village; and the Pequoit and Duschane Hill quarries lie east of the village near the east shore.  There are some minor quarries ('motions') on Barton, Cundell, and Green Islands, and a large quarry on Hurricane Island."

  • Vinalhaven, Maine - History of Vinalhaven, prepared by the Vinalhaven Historical Society, August, 1995.
    • Photographs of granite-quarry related subjects including:  the Bodwell Granite Co.'s Stoneyard; the Paving cutting yard at the Leopold Quarry; A three-masted schooner loading paving at a small quarry on the island's northwest side c.1895; The big pit at the Leopold Co. of New York's paving quarry about 1915; and Granite carvers working on decorations for the monumental U.S. Customs House in New York City, 1907.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Amherst Hill Quarries, colorized postcard photograph from the postcard collection of Freeman Fletcher Brown, Jr., in the "Dad's Postcards" section, on the Brown Log web site.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Armbrust Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, between Carvers Harbor and Indian Creek, south of Vinalhaven village."  The operator was the Crown Hill Granite Works in Vinalhaven, Maine.  The quarry had "numerous openings on several sides of a hillock 100 feet high."  Transport of the granite was by cart of 7 to 10 ton loads one-fourth to one-half mile to a wharf on Carvers Harbor.  The granite from the quarry was used exclusively to make paving blocks.  At the time of the report, the quarry had not been operated since 1907.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Armbrust Granite Quarry  (medium gray color) Structures in which this stone was used include: Paving in New York City, New York, Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects, published by the Maine Geological Survey, written M. B. Austin and A,M. Huseey, II, by John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 7.)
    • Armbrust Hill Wildlife Reservation, Vinalhaven, Maine - Abandoned Vinalhaven Granite Quarries.  The Wildlife Reservation is located near the town of Vinalhaven, and it includes an old granite quarry, a pond, birches, quarry garden, and trails and picnic area.  (No specific location is stated.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Black (Pleasant River) Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was located "in the town of Vinalhaven, on the south shore of Pleasant River, at the end of Winter Harbor, in the northern part of Vinalhaven Island."  The operator was Joseph S. Black of Vinalhaven, Maine.  The granite from the quarry reportedly was identical to the granite found at the Palmer Quarry.  Transport of the granite was by a 350-foot track, with a grade of 10 feet, to the wharf.

    The Black Quarry opened in 1896.  In 1905 the quarry measured 300 feet in a "N. 4O W. direction by 200 across with a working face 45 feet high."  At the time of the report, the quarry had been idle since 1912.

    Granite from the Black Quarry was used for buildings and the waste for rip rap.  Granite from this quarry was used in building the dry dock at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the Rain Island Lighthouse.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Black Granite Quarry (Pleasant River)  (medium gray color) Structures in which this stone was used include:  the Drydock at Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Rain Island Lighthouse at Rain Island Maine; and for Riprap - location not stated.  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 8.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine – the Bodwell Granite Company Quarry  (from “A Monster Piece of Granite,” Scientific American, Vol. LXIII, No. 8, August 23, 1890, pp. 113)
  • “Vinalhaven, Maine, claims to have produced the largest stone ever brought to light.  The Bodwell Granite Company recently quarried a shaft of granite which is the largest piece of stone ever quarried anywhere, and, if erected, will be the highest, largest, and heaviest single piece of solid stone standing, or that ever stood, so far as any record can be found.  In height it considerably exceeds any of the Egyptian obelisks.  The tallest of these, which was brought from Heliopolis to Alexandria by Emperor Constantine, and afterward taken to Rome, where it is still standing, is 105 feet 7 inches high, while the Vinalhaven shaft is 115 feet long, 10 feet square at the base, and weighs 850 tons.  It is understood, says Stone that the company quarried this immense monolith of their own account, not having an order for anything of the kind, and they suggest that it would be a fitting contribution for Maine for the monument to be erected in honor of General Grant.”

  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Bodwell Openings, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, in the diabase area west of Sand Cove."  The operator was the Bodwell Granite Co. of Rockland, Maine.  Granite from the quarry was reported to be an "olivine norite of almost black shade and fine texture."  Very large blocks are not obtainable.  The quarry was idle in 1922.

  • Vinalhaven, Maine – the Bodwell Granite Co. Works, Vinalhaven, Me.  (colorized postcard photograph, No. 13185; Published by A. B. Vinal Stationer & Newsdealer; Made in Germany; early-mid-1900s; unmailed)
  • Bodwell Granite Co. Works, Vinalhaven, Maine (colorized postcard photograph, No. 13185) Bodwell Granite Co. Works, Vinalhaven, Maine, postcard photo
  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Bodwell Black Granite Quarry  (almost black color)  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects, published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 10e.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Bodwell Granite Quarry.  Colorized postcard photograph, presented by Freeman Fletcher Brown, Jr., in the "Dad's Postcards" section on the Brown Log web site.  (This section of the web site includes these photographs and descriptions: Quarry at Vinalhaven, Maine; a Galamander; Quarry at Vinalhaven (monoliths); The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, The North Elevation.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Booth Granite Quarry. Booth Quarry is located about two miles from Vinalhaven on the Pequot Road.  Today it is used for sunbathing and swimming.  (From "About Vinalhaven:  Town Parks," presented by the Vinalhaven Chamber of Commerce.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Booth Brothers and Hurricane Island Granite Co.  In the  Raymond H. Fogler Library (in Orono Maine), Special Collections, there is a collection of records of the Booth Brothers and Hurricane Island Granite Co. in the "Granite Industry and Trade" section of the online "Subject Index to Manuscript Collections" list.  "Order forms for architectural granite" make up this collection.
  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Cundell Island Granite Quarry.  Stone from this quarry was used as paving - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects, published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 13.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Duschane Hill Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, 1 1/4 miles east of Vinalhaven village, on Roberts Harbor."  The operator was Roberts Harbor Granite Co. of Vinalhaven, Maine.  The granite was reportedly a medium buff-gray color with a fine to medium texture.  The granite from the quarry was used exclusively to produce paving blocks.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Duschane Hill Granite Quarry  (medium buff-gray color)  Stone from this quarry was used in the Public Library in Conway, New Hampshire.  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 13.)
  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the George Gins Granite Quarry.  Stone from this quarry was used for paving - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 15.)
  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Harbor Granite Quarry  (medium gray color)  (For a more detailed description of granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 16.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Hurricane Island Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was “in the town of Vinalhaven, in the southeastern part of Hurricane Island.”  The operator was the Hurricane Isle Quarries Co. of Rockland, Maine.  The granite from the quarry was reportedly a pinkish-buff medium-gray color with a coarse texture. 

    The Hurricane Island Quarry was opened about 1876.  In 1905 the quarry measured “500 feet along the rift and had an average width of 150 feet.  The quarry was on the south side of a ridge 100 feet high with a west-northwest axis.  The greatest depth of working face was 105 feet and its average about 50 feet.”  Transport of the granite was by track 400 feet to the dock. At the time of the report, the quarry was abandoned.

    The granite from the Hurricane Island Quarry was used for both buildings and monuments.  Waste waste was used for paving blocks.  The following are examples built from the granite from this quarry:  the Suffolk County courthouse, Boston, Massachusetts; St. Louis post office and customhouse; two buildings for the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

  • Hurricane Isle Quarry, Maine, East End.  Showing the lower 60 foot sheet onverlain by a 20 foot sheet and crossed by vertical east-west joint and by diagonal joint. .(From The Commercial Granites of New England)

    Hurricane Isle Quarry, Maine, East End.
  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Hurricane Island Granite Quarries  (pinkish buff, medium gray color) Structures in which this stone was used include:  Two buildings at Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts; the Custom House in St. Louis, Missouri; the Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri; and for paving blocks.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 18.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Indian Creek Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was “on Indian Creek in the township of Vinalhaven, about half a mile from Vinalhaven village.”  The operator was J. Leopold & Co., 233 Broadway, New York.  Granite from the quarry was reportedly a light-gray with a medium grain.  The quarry opened in 1909.  The granite from the quarry was used exclusively for curbing and paving.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Indian Creek Granite Quarry  (light gray)  Stone from this quarry was used in curbing and paving - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 18.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Islands of solitude: Maine havens off the tourist path, by Christina Tree, Globe Correspondent, The Boston Globe Archives, August 23, 1998.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Lawson Granite Quarry. Lawsons Quarry is located about a half mile Vinalhaven on the North Haven Road.  Today it is used for sunbathing and swimming.  (From "About Vinalhaven:  Town Parks," presented by the Vinalhaven Chamber of Commerce.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Palmer Quarry. 
  • Monolithic Columns of Coarse-Textured Biotite Granite Quarried at Palmer Quarry, Vinalhaven, for the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, at New York.  Length, 51 feet 6 inches to 54 feet; diameter, 6 feet.  One column in lathe.  (From The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907, Pl. XIII-B.)

    Vinalhaven, Maine - the Palmer Quarry.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Palmer Granite Quarry (Wharff Quarry)  (pinkish buff, medium gray color) Structures in which this stone was used include:  8 columns (51- to 54' long and 6' in diameter) for St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City; and paving, bridges, and buildings - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 24.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Columns of St. John the Divine Cathedral - "St. John Divine columns got their start in Maine," By Associated Press, in the Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH, Thursday, December 20, 2001.  This article is about the fire that damaged a part of the Cathedral in December 2001.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Paving-Block Quarry at Vinalhaven.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Pequoit Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, 1 1/2 miles east-northeast of Vinalhaven village, on Vinalhaven Island."  The owner was Booth Bros. & Hurricane Isle Granite Co., 208 Broadway, New York.  Granite from this quarry was reportedly a medium-gray shade with a fine texture.  Transport of the granite was by cart one-third mile to the narrows and shipped from there.

    The Pequoit Quarry opened in 1887.  In 1905 there were two openings.  Each of the openings were about 250 feet square with a depth of 10 feet.  The quarry only produced granite paving blocks in the sizes 10 to 14 by 4 to 5 by 6 to 7 inches.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Pequoit Granite Quarry  (medium gray color)  Stone from this quarry was used for paving - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 24.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Sands Quarry - Lintel for New York Custom-House.
  • Carved From Even-Grained Coarse-Textured Biotite Granite of Sands Quarry, Vinalhaven.  Showing adaptability for coarser sculpture.  Portion at left of head unfinished.  (From The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907, Pl. XIII-A.)

    Lintel for New York Custom-House.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Sands Granite Quarry  (pinkish buff, medium gray color) Structures in which this stone was used include:  the Post Office in Brooklyn, New York; the Custom House in Brooklyn, New York; the Board of Trade building in Chicago, Illinois; the Manhattan Bank in New York City; the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Post Office in Washington, D. C.; the Savings Bank building in Wilmington, Delaware; and the General Wood monument in Troy, New York.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 26.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Webster Quarry, on Pleasant River, at End of Winter Harbor, Vinalhaven. 
  • Looking West.  Granite-laden schooner to right.  (From The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907, Plate XII-A.)

    Vinalhaven, Maine - Webster Quarry, on Pleasant River, at End of Winter Harbor, Vinalhaven.

  • Vinalhaven, Knox County, Maine - the Webster Granite Quarry  (medium gray color)  Stone from this quarry was used in buildings in New York and Boston - locations not stated.  (For a more detailed description of the granite and location of quarry, see Maine Quarries and Prospects published by the Maine Geological Survey, written by M. B. Austin and A. M. Huseey, II, John R. Rand, State Geologist, May 1, 1958, pp. 30.)
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Paving-Block Quarry at Vinalhaven. A "Motion."
  • Plate XII (photograph) (From The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907.)

    Paving-Block Quarry at Vinalhaven.

  • Vinalhaven, Maine - A typical Maine Paving-Block Quarry, called a "Motion." 
  • Operated by one man provided with a tent, rarely with very small hand derrick.  (From The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, 1923, Plate XVIII-B.)

    Paving-Block Quarry at Vinalhaven.

  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Palmer or Wharff Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, on the west side, opposite Leadbetter Island."  The operator was Bodwell Granite co. of Rockland, Maine.  Granite from the quarry was reportedly identical with that of the Sands Quarry, except it was a little more of a pinkish buff with a slightly greenish tinge. Transport of the granite was by rail 700 feet to the wharf, "where the blocks (were) taken on schooners either to the cutting sheds at the Sands quarry or directly to market."

    The Palmer or Wharff Quarry opened in 1896.  In 1905 the quarry measured about 500 feet square and had an average depth of 25 feet.  "The quarry (was) on the west side of a ridge 100 feet high."  The quarry was idle in 1922.

    Granite from this quarry was used mainly for bridges and buildings.  The waste was cut into paving blocks.  This quarry, in addition to the Sands Quarry, provided granite for the New York customhouse. 

    Granite from this quarry was used the following examples:  the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad station in Chicago, Illinois; the State Savings Bank in Lansing, Michigan; the West Street Building (two stories polished), the United Realty Building, 115 Broadway, and 97 percent of the main piers (above foundation) of the Hell Gate Bridge in New York.

    The quarry also supplied eight columns (51 1/2 to 54 feet long by 6 feet in diameter) for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York.  The columns were each made in two sections.

  • Vinalhaven, Main - the Sands Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was "in the town of Vinalhaven, at the northeast side of the head of Sand Cove."  The operator was Bodwell Granite Co. of Rockland, Maine.  Granite from the quarry was reportedly a pinkish-buff color with a coarse texture. 

    The Sands Quarry opened before 1860.  In 1905 the quarry measured about 500 feet northeast to southwest and about the same northwest to southeast and had a depth from 20 to 75 feet, averaging about 40 feet.  The quarry was idle in 1922.  Transport of the granite was by railroad 500 feet to the wharf, "which admits schooners and barges of 1,500 gross tons capacity."

    Granite from the Sands Quarry was used for docks, bridges, piers, buildings, and monuments.  Examples are:  the Post Office Department building in Washington; the Masonic temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the savings bank in Wilmington, Delaware; the Board of Trade building in Chicago, Illinois; the post office and customhouse in Brooklyn, New York; the General Wool monument in Troy, New York; the Manhattan Bank in New York.  The Sands Quarry and the Palmer Quarry together furnished all the granite for the customhouse in New York.

  • Sands Quarry in Vinalhaven. Looking S. 80 E. Showing the curvature of the sheets, the intersecting joint face, and the N. 10 E. channeling along the "cutoff." Plate VI (From The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907, Pl. VI-A.)

    Sands Quarry in Vinalhaven

    • Vinalhaven, Maine – the Sands Quarry – “A Large Block of Stone,” Scientific American, July 5, 1879, pp. 3.

      “One of the largest blocks of granite ever cut in the United States has recently been taken from the quarry at Vinalhaven.  It is 59 feet long, 5 ½ feet square at the base, and 3 ½ feet square at the top.  It weighs from 75 to 100 tons.  It cost $1,700 to quarry it and move it to the shed where it is to be finished.  It is to foot the shaft of the monument to General Wool, to be erected at Troy, N. Y.  The shaft, with the base stones, will form a structure of about 75 feet high.”

      You can view a photograph of the General Wool statue in the “John E. Wool” section of Wikipedia.

  • Vinalhaven, Maine - Vinalhaven Granite Quarry (photograph), presented by the Penobscot Bay History Online.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine - the Webster Quarry, from The Commercial Granites of New England, Bulletin 738, by T. Nelson Dale, U. S. Geological Survey, 1923.

    This quarry was located "in the town of Vinalhaven, on the north shore of 'Pleasant River' at the end of Winter Harbor, in the northern part of Vinalhaven Island."  The operator was the A. M. Webster & Co. of Vinalhaven in 1905.  Granite from the quarry was reportedly identical to the granite found at the Palmer Quarry.  Transport of the granite was by "a graded track 200 feet to wharf admitting schooners of 300 to 350 long tons."

    The quarry was abandoned at the time of the report.  The granite had been shipped in the rough to be used for buildings in New York and Boston.

  • Vinalhaven, Maine – Vinalhaven Remembers its Great Age of Granite, by Charles Calhoun, Humanities, May/June 1998.
  • Vinalhaven, Maine – A Monster Block of Granite (in September 1891). The Manufacturer and Builder, Vol. 23, Issue 9, September 1891, pgs. 206-207. (article in digital images viewed at American Memory, Library of Congress)

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