The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-07
PIERCE BROS. OF FRANKFORT.
Thousands of Tons OF Granite Quarried from
Mt. Waldo. The supply Inexhaustible.
LbOston Sunday Globe ]

gained Panama construction company,
appear the names of John Peirce of
New York and George Peirce of Frank
fort, Me.
LII case the contract is awarded to
Oliver the Peirces will be identified
with the heaviest of the subcontractors.
Their speciality will be the granite, stone
and construction work.
There are more Peirces down in
Maine - Hayward and Albert PIERCE
making four brothers in all, who
have been almost literally brought up
on granite, representing business
started over half a century ago, by their
father, the late George A. PIERCE, but
carefully improved, enlarged and nOur-
ished until the Peirce quarries are
among the largest and most important
i'll the country.
While the Frankfort quarries are
operated under several different names
and corporate titles the great majority
of the stock is all in the family. John
Peirce of New York, who has attained
fame as contractor, is the real selling
agent of the Peirce granite and paving,
while George Peirce, Hayward Peirce
and Albert PIERCE see that the goods
are delivered.
In 1858 while the U. S. government
was building the series of coast defen-
ceS there was demand for granite
which led George A. Peirce to open
quarries on old Mount Waldo, at Frank
fort, where the granite was already
cropping out in great layers. Thousands
of tons We're shipped a few miles down
the river where Fort Knox was in pro-
cess of building, and there stands today
a 81, 100000 monument of an epoch of
warfare, past and gone, done in the
finest of grey granite. Many other
old Notifications along the New Eng
land coast are built of Frankfort stone.
The elder Peirce brought up large
family, and the boys began work in
the QuarrieS as soon as old enough.
They learned the whole business, too,
from tool-sharpening to quarrying, cut
ting, handling and all the ms and outs
OF the business. John Peirce eventual
ly worked to the head as a practical
man when it came to figuring OH con-
tracts, or, rather, in getting them after
having been figured on, and is one of
the thousands of Maine men who have
taken hand in the big game in New
York and made good.
OF course his success is due to Ger
tain extent, perhaps a large extent, to
the stay home brothers, who attend
ed to the thousand and one details of
the business down on the Maine noun
tains.
The Frankfort quarries are situated
on the PenobscOt river, about eight
miles above its mouth. Sailing up this
noble river, noted for the grandeur of
the scenery, after passing Bucksport
the river widens until it is over a mile
across in one place. This is known as
Marsh bay and on the west side there
is an estuary which flows in out of
sight among bunch OF several consid-
cradle mountains.
Of these mountains Mt. Waldo is
over 1000 feet above tide water and
grouped about it are several lesser
peaks.
These mountains are literally solid
granite. While a considerable proper
ton is not merchantable, there is a sup
ply which is almost incalcula bic. For
the last so years work has been going
on and thousands of tons have been
shipped all over the country, with hard
ly perceptible beginning made.
In the several quarrieS all the mod
ern appliances are in use for quarrying,
handling, cutting and finishing Every
thing IN the way of granite is supplied,
from simple rough ASHER to the finest
carving. Millions OF paving blocks
have been worked up from the refuse
and many cities, including Havana. do
business over the Peirces' paving
blocks.
The Marsh river makes up to the
foot OF the quarrleS, where there are
fine docks and loading apparatus, in
many places 1t being possible to swing
the granite from the cutting shed
directly on board the vessel. The build
ing of the new northern Maine SEAPORT
railroad, the line of which cuts directly
through the quarries, furnishes a
means of rail transportation probably
never dreamed of by the elder PIERCE
when ne started the business 1t is
but nine miles to the great docks at
Stockton harbor
The Peirces claim that they can furnish
Maine granite for the Panama construc
ton, II Maine granite is to be used. as
low as any concern, for they have re-
duced the handling problem to a mini
mum. In most quarries the riffs are
made deeper and deeper, and there is ID
vast amount of hosting to be done.
AT Frankfort the work is literally in
the air. Much of the quarrying is al
most on the surface, and an elaborate
system of gravity railroads and trolley
conVeyorS take the rough stones from
high up on the mountain and land
them On the exact spot wanted with
the greatest ease and least waste of
time.
Nestled around the base of these
mountains is the village of Frankfort.
which thriyeS or languishes with the
tide of work in the quarries. When
there are 100 or more men at work
Frankfort is busy little burg, but
when the entire operations are idle, it
is almost deserted village in aspect.
The Peirces live there, the most promi-
nent citizens of the village, as might be
expected.
The connection of the Peirces with
the Panama proposition naturally gives
rise to the supposition that Frankfort
granite may be used more or less in the
canal construction. At Frankfort,
however, the people do not base much
hopes on business from sending granite
to Panama, on account of the long dis
lance and heavy freight rates.
L is thought that perhaps the Peirces
might take over some quarry property
III the south in case the contract came
their way, but the use of Maine granite
Is considered an exceedingly remote
proposition, literally too good to be