Active Granite Quarries In Maine

Our quarry has been mined for centuries and greatly contributes to our region s character.

Active granite quarries in maine.

Prior to the opening of commercial quarries granite was used primarily for building foundations road bridge and pier construction. Frequently asked questions geologic information. Maine s granite is also unique because of its pink color for which landscape architects are seeing increasing demand. The operator was dunbar bros.

Granite from the north jay maine quarry was the white granite of new england haynes said and used to build general grant s tomb the hahnemann monument in washington d c and closer to home a cathedral in lewiston. In the 1960s the last working granite quarry flat ledge better known as hocking granite quarry near clark island village closed forever and filled with water. The dunbar quarry opened in 1901. When the quarry was measured in 1905 it was 250 by 100 feet and had a depth from 4 to 8 feet.

Witness the maine granite industry which reached its high point in 1901 with 152 quarries employing at least 3 500 men. Oliver and three co workers are the last of maine s granite quarriers and crotch island is the only active remnant of what once was a dominant industry and colorful part of the state s past. Mining and quarrying in maine virtual tour. Millennium granite quarry stoneworks mgq is located at 50 quarry road in wells maine just 8 minutes from i 95 maine state exit 19.

Metallic mineral deposits of maine map known occurrences of metallic minerals shown on a generalized geologic map of maine. The quarrying of granite in maine has been a commercial undertaking since the early 1800 s. Rely on millennium granite for a lasting compliment to your landscape and facilities. I remember our family visiting that quarry staring down at the workers way below cutting stone.

Granite mined in hallowell prized for its softness that allowed easier carving built the gettysburg monument. The last one capped with an active osprey nest recently toppled. Our virtual tour is a series of photos which portray some of the history and types of maine mining and quarrying. Transport of the granite was by cart 1 miles to the wharf.

Maine s quarries had their heyday in the late 18th and early 19th centuries marvinney said. However the development of portland cement as a building material in the early 1900 s and the depression of the 1930 s dealt maine s granite industry a blow from which it would never recover.