History of the Stones
The following is a short history of the stonecutters' footprints and hammering.
History of the Granite workers has history as long as history of civilization, as man has been using stone since the beginning:
"Granite is not a rock which was simple in its origin but might be produced in more ways than one." Joseph Beete Jukes, Director of the Irish Geological Survey-1863
For thousands of years man has been quarrying stone from the creation of the Egyptian pyramids to the construction of the large cathedrals of Europe to the building of America's state capitols and monuments. New England being the forerunners of the trade, saw its boom begin soon after the Civil War. By 1880, Maine could claim 44 granite companies. And the granite that was "quarried, cut, carved and polished was utilized primarily for construction of federal, state and local public buildings, for paving blocks and monuments." Charles Scontas, Bureau of Labor Education, pp 234. It also helped to build our roads, bridges and breakwaters.
During the 1800's when a stonecutter split off a granite block it required wedges, a sledge hammer and a good deal of determination and talent in order to make a quality product. In the coming months, I will be relaying the stories of the stonecutters and quarry workers' determination and talents.
Additional Granite and Limestone Quarrying Histories and Photographs:
A video of the History of the Limestone: Rockland, Rockport and Thomaston Maine
as told by Paul Merrimam, Maine historian, writer and Producer and Dave Hoch, writer and Vice President of Rockland Historical Society. Mr.Hoch was the last president of the Rockland-Rockport Lime Company and he put out the last fire of the limestone kilns. This show aired on Maine PBS television : http://www.mainepublicradio.org/maineexperience/segments.html
Additional books on the Limestone industries: Rockland Area Lime Industries (Images of America)
by Courtney C. MacLachlan (Author), David R. Hoch (Author), Paul G. Merriam (Author)
1. 'Quarry and Kiln , The Story of Maine's Lime Industry' written by Roger L. Grindle, (1971) by Courier Press. This outstanding book is a complete and lengthy history of Maine's lime industry from the 1700's up thru the 1900's, it contains a lot of old photos from the towns of Rockland, Rockport, Warren, and Thomaston lime industries.
2. 'Tombstones and Paving Blocks: History of the Maine granite industry by Roger L. Grindle (1977) Courier Press, Rockland, Maine
3. Collective Efforts Among Maine Workers: Beginnings and Foundations, 1820-1880 (1994) by Charles A. Scontras This book relays the history of the Maine labor unions.
