The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-06-14
Enduring Products

Dug from Blue Mountain in Caledonia |
County that Have Made South Ryegate |
Famous as "A Granite Center-A Pen Pic |
ture of the Plants and Industry AT that |
Point.
The column article in the WATcHMAN |
three weeks ago, descriptive Of the granite |
industry at East Montpelier, met with such
favorable reception, not only by the people |
of that town, but by those in other localities
who are Interested in granite quarrying and
manufacturing, that it has convinced the
editor that details of the business in other
parts of the state would be of interest TO
its readers With this end in view a mem.
Der of his staff visited South Ryegate last
week, looked over the plants there, and was
impressed with the magnitude of what he
saw and heard.
AS early as 1862, granite was quarried
from Blue Mountain, two and one-half
miles from the village of South Ryegate,
and taken to st. Johnsbury to be worked.
Not till 1876, however was business made
of quarrying and manufacturing, when Nj.
f. Mcdonald, who is still in the employ Of
the Blue Mountain Works, erected sheds at
South Ryegate and became known as
dealer in that locality. In 1884, Mr.. Nc
Donald and Robert Farquharson entered
into partnership under the firm name of
the Blue Mountain Granite Company. In
1889 stock company was formed, which
bore the name of its predecessor. This con-
plant and quarry were purchased by Alex
ander Cochran of Groton, who has since
had charge of the business, with Mr.. Far
quharson as manager On purchasing the
property, Mr.. Cochran changed the name of
the concern to the Blue Mountain Granite
Works.
Mr.. Cochran is well known as one of the
most successful reliable and pushing men
of Caledonia county, and his purchase of
the property infuse new life into the bust
| .1s.rv.a Mt
the quarries and sheds, and so crowded
with orders are they that they already have
several months work ahead.
The quarry Is reached by an excellent
road, with an easy down grade to the works.
| The granite is in sheets, easy to quarry, of a
| light shade, medium grade, and susceptible
of high polish, suitable for either building
| or monumental work. AT the present they
are engaged in getting ont and finishing two
immense flat stones for a vault in ceme-
terry at Poughkeepsie, n. Y. The first one
| was drawn from the quarry to the sheds the
day the WATCHMAN representative was
there 1t will finish fourteen by ten feet, is
two feet thick, and weighs twenty-five tons.
The mate to it will be about the same size
and weight. 1t took twelve horses to draw it
to the sheds, but once there, with the i'm
proved machinery with which the plant is
equipped, it was handled with perfect ease.
The cost of the two stones will be 81 $50.
This firm is also at present manufactur.
ing monument for New York parties the
bottom base of which is six feet four inches
square by two feet high The die is to be
three feet eleven inches square and seven
feet long, surmounted by a statue. Its cost
on the cars will be $1,000.
A few weeks ago this firm shipped tC
Long Island City, n. Y, a monument OF
sixteen pieces, weighing "a, 900 pounds. Or
arriving at its destination each piece fitted
perfectly to its place, and so satisfied were
no hos wit II hot thau no nj al
the check in payment with very cordia
letter of thanks and appreciation of tn,
manner in which the work has been done.
One of the largest contracts filed by thu
) Blue Mountain Company during the pas
year was for the coping around Lafayette
, Park, Washington, d. c. They have als'
shipped large orders to New York, Ohit
. and Michigan. The Blue Mountain Work.
do an annual business of S25 900, and are re
ceving more orders than they can fill TO
, curbing, underpinning, rough stock ant
finished building and monumental work.
After an excellent dinner at the hOspita
BILE home of Station Agent G. NJ. Libby
who, by the way, although somewhat of
=, novice in the business, is proving first
class agent for the company, and handling
; the large business at that station to the en-
tire satisfaction of its patrons-the news
paper man was taken by A. F. Mulliken t.
the Ryegate Granite Works, situated abou
. one mile from South Ryegate village. VI
J to 1889 the Ryegate Granite Works was
stock company, at which time A. II. Null
ken and NJ. II. Gibson of South Ryegate
; Alexander Dunnett of st. Johnsbury an
y D. w. Learned, since deceased purchase
: the property, and changed the name to tn
y Ryegate Granite Works Company. Sine
y the first year of the life of the new firm
: when Mr. Mulliken was on the road the
{ have employed no travelling men; in fac
t have needed none. Their work has nevt
!, been forced on the market, it sells on il
Q merits, and the great demand for it is I'll
l. best evidence thai it is recognized as ST
/, perior stock, finished by trustworthy worl
- men,
Their quarry is also located in the Blu
Mountain, and the stone is much the san
r quality as that quarried by the Blue Moul
tain Works. IL is light gray, mediu
texture, easy to work, and absolutely fri
from knots or iron. Only ten men are kel
10 there, but so easy is the granite to quar-
" that they do the work of thirty men in d
- ordinary quarry.
- Mr.. Muliken is the business manager
:" the company, and Joseph Murphy Il
i. gentlemany and efficient superintendent
- the works. SiXty-fve men are employee
m and their monthly payroll averages So, &c
If The business done annually is in excess
~, SO 900. The company owns fourteen ten
70 ment houses, a store from which the wor
~ men are supplied on credit if desired,
a. livery stable, and the village hotel. In Il
10 village, Miss Marian Hall is the etficie
w stenographer and Frank Dalton the boo
keeper. Charles Smith and p. ID. Banhe
have charge of the store.
Before speaking of the works in deta
some of the jobs now in process of comp
av ton are of interest. Among these are I
rs monument to be erected in Worcest,
of Mass, over the grave of George Bancr'
the historian. This has a bottom base 81
teen feet square, with total height
twenty-three feet six inches. 1t has
carved die, with four polished rou
columns supporting cap and dome.
side the columns is a statue. This NOR
nd ment will cost, delivered $4,000. The &C
rs federate soldiers monument to be erect
up at Clarksville Tenn, is massive structu
IS, with thirteen-foot base and twenty-fC
he shaft surmounted by a statue 1t will CO
81, 800. The fine sarcophagus monume
m for Senator Cameron is also worthy of mt
er ton. 1t is nearly completed, and will be
lie credit TO the company and to the state.
let The company is also now filling ord
&C. from Chicago, Buffalo and Milwauk
rk Within the past year large shipments
So finished work have been made TO st. Pa
Minneapolis, Denver, Omaha and Far