The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-23
Alexander Go lon, One of
City's Mo .espected
Men, 1.A ATo-day
STARTF SGRANITE
FVSl BACK IN 1886
Was IL, 20 Years a Member
Of the Barre School
Commission

Alexander Gordon, one of the most
widely known men in the Barre granite
industry and long time member of the
city school commission, died at his home,
32 Spaulding street, this morning at 6
o'clock. The end followed an illness of
nearly year.
He was born in Methlic, Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, in 1856 There he obtained his
education, and as young man he went
to Aberdeen, the Scottish Granite city,
to serve his apprenticeship as granite
cutter. Coming to America in 1883, Mr..
Gordon settled in Westerly, r. |. Two
years later he came to Barre and soon
thereafter formed a partnership with
George Rose. The firm occupied shed
quarters off North Main street, and in
the same year, 1888, Mr.. Rose having
withdrawn, the firm name was changed
to Mari & Gordon, with the late Charles
Marr assuming an interest in the bust
ness. A year later Mari & Gordon, then
on the Threshold of a business career
destined to place them in the front
ranks Of granite manufacturers in Amer
lea, caused to be erected near Granite
street the first straight shed ever built
in Barre A few years later the firm had
developed to point where it was pur-
chasing dark quarry on Milestone hill.
In the quarry were unlimited opportuni-
ties and using the rich dark stock which
it yielded, the concern soon improved
those opportunities and incidentally add
ed greatly to their already growing pres
tige. Still later the G. W. Mann prop
erty on the hill, which included light
quarry, came into the firms possession.
In the meantime the late William Mari
had acquired an interest in the rapidly
increasing business. To-day in parks
and cemeteries, public squares and bat
tlefields throughout the nation some Of
the finest memorials ever created testi.
fly to the high reputation earned and al
ways retained by the firm. Since 1912
Marr & Gordon have occupied the Le-
land plant, so called, on Wiley street,
which they purchased.
The deceased was long member and
an active worker in the Barre Congrega-
tional church. For more than quar-
ter century he had been one Of the dea-
cons Of the society. In city affairs he
was consistent advocate of education
and almost any worthy move that had
for it's purpose the extension of OPP
portunity for learning received his sup
port He gave his best service to the
city schools and gave them unselfshly.
1t was not until the spring of 1917,
after he had represented ward ! in the
school commission for 20 years. that he
declined reelection. Mr.. Gordon was
member of Clan Gordon and belonged
to the Masons, with affiliations in Gran
ite lodge and Granite chapter. At the
time Of his death he was one OF the old
est members, in point of years, in the
Granite Manufacturers association. His
citizenship was of a type that exalts
service and his passing viii be deeply
mourned in many circle.
Mr.. Gordon is survived by his wife,
his son, Arthur A. Goriol, and by five
daughters, Edith, Euphcmia, Helena,
Esther and Dorothy. Three brothers re-
side in Scotland,
The funeral viii be held N the Con-
cregational church Thursday afternoon
at 2 o'clock, the pastor, Rev. i. L. Good
speed, officiating. Interment is to be
made in the family lot at Elmw,od GEM
etery.