The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-28
Willio ~ .Iarr, Prominent
.Ss re Manufacturer,
Killed at Troy, N. Y.
WAS SETTING STONE
IN BIG MONUMENT
Body Is Expected to Reach
Barre on Friday
Morning

William Marr of the firm of Marr g.
Gordon, one OF the most prominent men
associated with the development Of Barre
granite both here and at the qtarries,
died in Troy N. ", hospital late yes
terday afternoon as the result of injuries
which he received while setting stone
IN one OF the Troy cemeteries. The re-
mains will arrive in Barre Friday morn
ing at z O'Clock and the funeral will
probably be held Saturday afternoon.
The first news of the accident reached
mere yesterday afternoon around 3 o'clock
when Mrs. Mari received telegram at
her home, Il Franklin street, saying that
her husband had been seriously injured
while helping to set monument. Mrs.
Marr was making hurried preparations
to go to Troy, when another message.
Whlch came around q o'clock, told of his
death. With Mr.. Mari in Troy was
Matthew Haley of this citv, an expert
stonesetter, who had been employed by
Marr & Gordon to set the big lob on
which Mr.. Marr was working when the
accident occurred. Mr.. Haley was ioined
last night by Arthur Lyman of Rutland.
a brother OF Mrs Mari. and the two will
accompany the remains to Barre. 1t is
requested that floral offerings be omit
ted.
Work on the big monumental Job had
been under way since last Friday. when
Mr.. Mari arrived in Troy to assist Mr..
Haley in setting it, The men were
hurrying to complete the work by Me-
mortal day and it seems that they were
unloading the last section of the monn-
ment The block of granite weighs 10
tons and it was while the big stone was
being lifted into position BY means OF a
derrick that snatch block gave way.
Mr.. Marr was struck BY steel cable
and thrown a distance of % feet. His
chest was crushed and several ribs were
fractured.
William Marr was born in Aberdeen,
Scotland, July IL, 1883 Around 80 wears
ago he came to America and lived for a
few years in Quincy, Mass. Afterwards
he came to Barre and associated in the
granite business with his brother, Charles
Mari, and Alexander Gordon. The CON-
pany organized June /. 1888. and at that
time controlled a large quarry on Mill
stone hill. Sometime later. Charles Marr
retired, but his brother continued in the
business and contributed much of his en-
ergy toward bringing it to its present
high estate among manufacturing con-
Germs in the Barre granite belt. 1t was
partly through Mr. Marr's enterprise
that the firm came to purchase the big
Leland plant at the north end last year.
At the present time Marr & Gordon
operate two large plants and their yearly
output is one OF the heaviest of any
single firm in the country. The job on
which Mr.. Mari was working when the
accident occurred was only one of many
memorials reared by the
company. The senior member of the firm
had the oversight of the set
ting of big monuments and a part of
the time he spent travelling through the
East and West in the interests of the
The firm of Marr & Gordon is
probably the oldest in Barre in point of
years of business.
Mr.. Marr's marriage to Mrs. Lucia
Chamberlain took place in Barre May 81,
1911 Besides his wife. he leaves q
brother. Robert Mari, living in London,
Ont, another brother, Alexander Mari,
who lives near Aberdeen, and two sis
tiers, Mrs. Andrew Cruickshank and Mrs.
Jane Clark, both of whom reside in Scot
land. Only two months ago he was
,aled to London Ont, to attend the
funeral of his twin brother, John Marr.
Charles Marr, who figured in the early
history of the local firm, died in Colorado
asst year.
In religious, fraternal and business or
the news of Mr.. Marr's death
will have depressing effect. For many
years he has been one of the faithful
members of the Congregational church.
Masonry in this city is the better to-day
or his earnest endeavors and Mount ST.
iai temple, st. Aldemar commandary,
No. IL, X. T.. Granite lodge, No. 35, +.
md A. NJ, and Granite chapter. No. 26,
r. A. NJ, are mourning the loss of
aithful brother. He was past high
,riest of the chapter, a past eminent
of the Templars, and pre-
ate of the commandery, an Office in
which he succeeded the late Dr. o. FL.
Reed. Mr.. Mari was one of the early
members of Clan Gordon, No. II, and
ctively interested in its welfare.