THESpring/ Summer 2012
GRANITE CHIPS
Quincy Quarry and GraniteWorkersMuseum, P.O. Box 690724, Quincy, MA02269
617-472-1322
From the President
As we move intothe spring season we are moving forward on several fronts. At present we realize that to construct a building for a museum with the present state of funding and grants still at a low point we must be realistic and look to several years down the road where sources should be more available for our plans. At this point we are pursuing several options to acquire space in the QuincyCenter area where we would set up a museum site for area visitors and tourist who will be visiting the city this year. This would be a site where we can set up exhibits of the many artifacts and photos of the granite industry that have been donated byour members and non members who wish to preserve our granite history. An ongoing presentation we are continuing with is the geology program for elementary level students to learn about the makeup of Quincy granite, how it was formed and how it got to Quincy. The geology program hit a few bumps but we are now back on track. Another presentation we are starting is on the Titanic disaster one hundred years ago this year. The Quincyconnection is John Horrigan who owned a stone shed on Federal Avenueand was the sculptor who created the statue for the Titanic memorial in WashingtonD.C. that honors the men who gave their lives so that women and children mightbe saved during the RMS Titanic disaster. The Lyons Turning Mill wall capping is now complete on one section ofthe wall structure which came out looking great andsatisfactory to all concerned . We will continue to seek funding in the next round of funding from the Community Preservation funding cycle to complete the capping of the remaining wall structure.
QuarryMuseum Launches Virtual Museum On Web Site
The Quincy Quarry and GraniteWorkersMuseum has launched it's virtual museum on our web site. The progress to acquire a permanent home for the museum has been slowed down due to the present economy and lack of funding and grant availability. The idea of a virtual museum was suggested by a museum member as a way to show the public many of the historical artifacts that have been acquired by the museum to date. The virtual museum displays the artifact along with a brief descriptive history of the artifact and how it was acquired and from whom. The virtual museum gives our members and the public who visit our web site interesting knowledge of the granite industry that we our committed saving for future generations. As new artifacts are acquired they will be featured on the web page. The QuarryMuseum would like to acquire any artifacts ,pictures, and any information on the granite industry including information on any individual who worked in the industry. We would like to thank Lauren Chotalal for building and maintaining our web site for our members and to showcase us to the world wide web. We have had inquires and have acquired information on granite workers who worked in the industry from around the country. The museum can be contacted at Quincy Quarry Museum P.O. Box 690724 Quincy, MA 02269, phone 617-472-1322 or email . Visit the virtual museum on the web site
10" Pneumatic Quarry Star Drill
Added to the museum collection of tools used in the granite industry was a 10" pneumatic quarry star drill. The 10" long drill with a drilling diameter of 1 3/4"and a six point cutting pattern was used in the quarrying operation. The drill was used to split and separate large sections of bedrock in the quarry. 12" feathers and wedges would have been inserted into the drilled holes and hammered to split the bedrock from the seams. The drill was donated by Charlie Deering and Sally Dawson.`
QuincyGranite Jewelry
The museum has acquired two pieces of jewelry with a granite connection. The first piece is a small ball of polished extra dark Quincy granite with an eye fastened to it. The ball was most likely strung on achain and used as a necklace or as charm on a bracelet. The second piece is a brooch or pin which has a clasp and also has an eye which could have been used as a pendent. The broochpendent is polished mediumQuincy granite with a convexed shape mounted in a decorative silver mount. The two jewelry pieces were donated by Bill and Marion Colocough. Marion's grandfather, George Clark, and uncle, Edward Pearce, owned the Clark and Pearce stone shed in South Quincy. The jewelry was created for a family member and is an example of the many waysQuincy granite was valued . The museum is very fortunate to acquire this type of artifact.
Archaeology Day At Inclined Plane
The Quincy Quarry and GraniteWorkersMuseum took part in Massachusetts Archaeology Month "Step Back In Time October 2011' sponsored by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The museum chose the Granite Railway's Inclined Plane for its historical significance in the City of Quincy's past granite industry. The Inclined Plane railway was part of the Granite Railway, the first commercialincorporated railway system in the United States on whichmany of the later railway systems were modeled after. The railway was designed and built by Gridley Bryant in 1828 to transport granite blocks down from Pine Hill Ledge to the Granite Railway for transport to the NeronsetRiver. At the river the blocks were loaded on to granite sloops for transport to Charlstown for construction of the Bunker HillMonument. The schedule date for Archaeology Day was October 1st, unfortunately rain canceled the event. A rain date of October 15th was rescheduled and the presentation of historical pictures, interpretatives and artifacts related to the Inclined Plane were displayed. Visitors to the site were able to walk up and down the site of the railway and were given interesting facts of its history, construction and operation by museum members Tom Bonomi and Al Bina. On display also was a picture by local artist Ruth Haderski that was commissioned by the museum depicting what the inclined plane would have looked like when it was in operation in1828. The picture was based on Gridley Bryant's letter to a friend describing the construction and operation upon its completion. The day was very successful with many visitors from near and farand sharing stories about relatives who worked in the granite industry.
News from the Past Boston Transcript July 20, 1844
An Immense Stone - The Quincy Granite Railway Company quarried yesterday one of the largest stones ever moved in Quincy, or probably at any other quarry. Average dimensions 50 feet long, 28 feet wide and 25 deep, making 35,000 cubic feet. Weight of the stone 3,181 tons, allowing 11 feet to the ton. This huge mass was moved on its bed by gunpowder. The Blast hole was 20 feet deep, and 41/2 inches diameter. The hole was to have been 25 feet deep, but a piece of the drill broke, and prevented going to the proposed depth. Four casts of powder were used in the operation. For the first blast one cast was used , which did not crack the stone. The second, one and half casts, which cracked the rock the whole length, opening a seam an eighth of an inch wide. The third blast, one and a half casts were put in, which opened the seam a half inch, sufficient to cut the stone.
"Life Magazine" Donation
The cover of "Life Magazine"August 8, 1938,pictured swimmers diving into a Quincy quarry. The recreational history of the quarries and the surrounding areas are pat of the overall history of the granite industry of Quincy. Youths through the years have congregated at the quarry swimming holes for social activities, which included swimming,jumping and diving into the cool clear waters also the quarries were know as a destination to partake of some refreshments. Acquiring this issue of ”Life Magazine" will enhance the museum's collection of the recreational history of the granite industry. The museum would like to identify the young men pictured on the cover which would greatly add to the historical value when displaying this artifact. The copy of "Life Magazine" was donated by Sally Dawson and Charlie Deering.
Photograph Of Clark And Pearce Stone Shed
An original photograph of the Clark and Pearce stone shed has been donated by Bill and Marion Colocough of Quincy. The Clark and Pearce stone shed was located on Gilbert Street, SouthQuincy and owned by George Clark and his brother in-law, Edward Pearce. The Clark and Pearce stone shed mainly produced monumental works for both retail and wholesale sale. George Clark was Marion's grandfather who is pictured in the photo which is the photo on our web site home page. In the photo he is the gentleman to the far left leaning on the monument. Photographs donated like this are of great value to the museum because individuals can be identified in the photo and these photo exist no where else. To have information like this in our collection is greatly appreciated .
Granite Railway Commemorative Coin
The museum has received the donation of a commemorative coin with the inscription on one side "Quincy Home Of The Granite Industry And First Commercial Railroad 1826". The coin also has imprinted on it the first railway car designed by Gridley Bryant to transport granite for the Bunker HillMonument to the wharf at the NeponsetRiver. On the reverse side is the "Founding Of Mount Wollaston 1625 First Maypole Dance". The coin was donated by museum member William Michaud of Quincy. All artifacts no matter how large or small are important to save the granite industry history of Quincy and the surrounding towns.
Change Of Address And Contact Information
Please contact the museum when there is a change of address or any other contact information. This is important to us in the mailing of the newsletter or program announcements. Contact us at Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum P.O. Box 690724 Quincy, MA 02269, email: , phone: 617-472-1322,
Cleaner Greener at the Inclined Plane Railway
On Saturday May 5th the museum took part in Quincy's Cleaner Greener Day. The purpose is for groups of volunteers to make the city a cleaner and greener place to live. Volunteers pick up trash, cut and trim vegetation, plant and mulch and anything else that makes the city look better. The museum chose the Inclined Plane Railway this year to continue its commitmentto keep this historical site presentable to the citizens of Quincy and toit's visitors. The city supplied gloves, bags, tools and a tee shirt to all participants. The Inclined Plane clean-up had twelve adults plus kids. Both members and non members joined in the clean up. The event was capped off with a giant cookout at Pageant Field sponsored by Mayor Koch, Curry's Hardware and Hannaford's Super Market.
J.S.Swingle Quarry Tour
On Sunday, March 18th a tour of the J.S.Swingle's and theBerry's quarries including the Quincy Quarry Railroad Company's rail bed that ran through the Swingle quarry operation took place. The tour was sponsored by the Quincy Park Department's Environmental Treasures Program and Ward Four councillor Brian Palmucci. The tour was organized and led by Sally Owen along with Joe Greene,Jo Ann Swingle Hennigan the daughter and grand daughter of two former quarry owners and Tom Bonomi local history buff of the quarry area who are all museum members. Some two hundred plus joined the tour which was broken into two groups due to the size of tour participants. Joe Greene who is creating a documentary video on the Swingle story and Jo Ann Swingle Hennigan led the tour of the Swingle quarry area. Photos of the quarry operation and historical facts and stories of how the quarry evolved into a major granite operation in the City of Quincy were displayed. Jo Ann Swingle Hennigan carried her personal book with pictures of the family history and she talked about her memories about the quarry and on occasions playing checkers with the quarry workers in the 1940's. Photos of the quarry from the early days to the closing of the quarry were on display. Sally Owen and Tom Bonomi ledthe second group on a tour of the Berry's Quarry and the rail bed of the Quincy Quarry Railroad Company which ran into and through the Swingle's granite operation. Also with the second tour was Quincy's city historian, Tom Galvin, who added many interesting comments along the tour route. People from across the south shore enjoined hearing and seeing the presentations about a popular and iconic location in the quarry area of West Quincy. The Quarry Museum set up tables with artifacts including the bridge plaque from the bridge that spanned a portion of the quarry, a section of original rail, a wooden explosive box from Swingle's, tools used in the quarry operation and historical photos of the Swingle operation throughout it's history. Tom Bonomi also set up a monitor which displayed portions of the movie 'The Cardinal" which was filmed at the Swingle site in 1963 and the tour members saw remnants of portions of the original set.
Lyons turning Mill Capping Project
The Quincy Quarry and GraniteWorkersMuseum received funding from the Community Preservation Committee for the capping and stabilization of the granite walls of the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hills Drive. The mill site is on the state register of historic places and is owned by the City of Quincy and is leased to Quarry Hills Granite Links. The walls were deteriorating due to the elements. Water has been percolating down into the wall structure allowing the freeze thaw cycle over the years to loosen the blocks by eroding the mortar. The QuarryMuseum was required, before any work was started, to acquire a structural engineering study to determine theseismic stability of the wall structure and to establish engineering design specifications on the capping and repointing of the walls. The QuarryMuseum hired Structures North Consulting Engineer's Inc. of Salem MA for this project. Once the proper course was determined, bids were advertised and a contractor was hired. Folan Waterproofing and Construction Company was low bidder and was awarded the contract and started work in late October. With the mild winter, Folan was able to work through the winter months and completed the capping in late January. Structures North monitored the capping peration with complete satisfaction with Folan's work. The capping looks great and will stabilize the wall structure for many years to come. The QuarryMuseum has submitted an application for the next cycle of funding through the Quincy Preservation Committee.
New Members
The QQ&GWM would like to thank all new members who have joined. Your support has given the museum basic start up funds to continue in our goals to save our granite history. We welcome the newest members and thank them for joining us in this effort.
A. Monti Granite Company Inc. James & Deanna White Hebert
Granite City Supply Company Robert Partridge
John Rugolotto John Kelly
Donation of Levo Di Bona Collection 1915 - 1989
The Quincy Quarry and GraniteWorkersMuseum received the Levo Di Bona collection of drawings, photographs and plaster casts. Levo Di Bona was a native of QuincyMassachusetts. He graduated from QuincyHigh School in 1934 and went on to graduate from the School of Fine Arts in Boston. He served an apprenticeship with Quincy sculptor Gerald Horrigan, and became a freelance sculptor. The majority of his sculpture was tombstones, many of which are in the MountWollastonCemetery in Quincy. He usually sculpted Catholic imagery, including angels, saints, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus. He also did commissioned statues for Boston churches and individuals and oil paintings, primarily of landscapes. The collection was donated originally to the Forest Hills Cemetery Educational Trust, Boston. Upon research by Forest Hills they could not document any of his work to stone work at the cemetery. The cemetery board of directors reviewed the quarry museums efforts to preserve Quincy's granite history and felt that Quincy would be the proper place for the collection. Mr. Di Bona died in 1989 at the age of 74, and is buried in MountWollastonCemetery where much of his work is located.
New Display at QuincyCity Hall
In connection with the planned restoration of the old portion of city hall to it's original design of 1844 (to the maximum extent practicable) the museum has assembled a new display in the lobby of City Hall. The new display features pictures of city hall from when it was constructed in 1844 to the present, interpretative information of each photo with a timeline and the construction cost of the building. Newspaper articles of 1844 from the "Quincy Patriot and the ’Quincy Aurora’ tell the story from the town council proposal of a new town house to the vote to build it out of stone. Included in the new display is the story and pictures of Solomon Willard the architect and superintendent of construction of the New Town House. The display also has photos of buildings and projects that Willard was involved in during his career.