The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-13
Boutwell,, Milne & Varnum
Co. and E. L. Smith & Co.
Buy Gazeley Property
SAID TO BE LARGEST
DEAL MADE HERE
The Land Is in the Heart
of the Milestone Hill
District

The biggest quarry deal which has
ever occurred in the Barre district has
just been completed by the purchase by
the Boutwell,, Milne 4 Varnum com
pany OF Montpelier and by L. L. Smith
y Company of Barre of the quarry land
holdings of the James Gazeley estate.
These holdings consist OF about $50
acres of land, of which the Boutwell,,
Milne & Varnum company has pilr-
chased the land lying southerly of the
Graniteviile road and Z. L. Smith s.
Company the land lying northerly Of
said road. The consideration is not
stated but the quantity of the land
and its location in the heart of the best
granite deposit on Milestone hill indi-
Gates that the deal is the biggest that
has ever happened in the granite in
dustry.
This transaction brings to mind an
interesting figure in the granite indus
try, for in James Gazeley of Albany,
n. y, Barre granite always had Il
staunch supporter and believer About
1876 quarry owner showed Mr. Gaze
ley, who was then running a retail and
manufacturing granite monumental
plant in Albany, some samples of Barre
granite from Milestone hill. MIR. Gaze
ley was very much interested in this
sample and inquired whether the de-
posit was such as to furnish plcnti-
full supply. When he was assured that
there was plenty of granite and that
every indication pointed towards high
quality, he said, sYou have the world
beaten for granite"
About 1881 Mr. Gazeley, more and
more impressed by the beauty of Barre
granite, came to this district and in-
quired Of Emory l.. Smith if there was
any more good granite on the Parker
farm" Mr.. Smith, who was the found
er of 4. L. Smith & Company, had al
ready purchased portion of this farm
and was operating quarry. Mr.. Smith
assured Mr.. tiazeley that there was
more good granite on that farm and
thereupon Mr.. Gazeley purchased the
rest of the farm from Warren Nye, adj
of the Parker estate. Then
Mr.. Gazeley purchased more quarry
land from Wilbur Shepard, lying next
to the Parker purchase.
Later on Mr.. Gazeley bought from
George Holden the quarry land known
as the "old Abbott farm" and acquired
the qusrrying rights thereon which had
been sold to the Wetmorc &
Morse company. Then he bought from
Harrison Bancroft what is known as
he Bancroft farm These latter ao-
Iuisitions adjoin the quarries now OPP
rated by Boutwell, Milne Varnum
The result of these purchases was to
rive James Gazeley a solid block of
quarry land in the very center Of the
argest and best deposits of granite on
hill and the magnitude of his
holdings has always made him an inn
,ortant factor in the history of Barre
!ranite. He operated for time what
vas known as the Gazeley quarry and
which now forms a part of L. L. Smith
Compapy's upper quarry; and on
he Abbott farm opened and operated
What is known as the Boulder quarry"
n 1900 Mr.. Gazeley ceased quarrying
nd leased the land lying northerly Of
he Graniteville road to +. l.. Smith
! Company and land lying southerly
( said road to the Boutwell,, Milne &
'arnum company.
These leases have been renewed from
ime to time and. if il had not been
or the purchase of these quarry lands,
'ould have run until l943 Mr. Gazeley
led about 10 years ago and left his
uarry holdings in trust. II is from
he trustees and the heirs of the Gaze
" estate that these properties have
cen purchased.
The acquisition Of these granite prop
rites by Boutwell,, Milne & Narnum
,mpany and f. l.. Smith & Company
ives 10 these companies a command
u position in the future of Barre gran
e. To the Rock of Ages" company
As been added an extensive and val
able deposit of dark Barre granite and
the smith Barre company has been
lded large and rich deposit of light
I'd medium Barre granite. The prop
ty acquired by the Boutwell,, Milne
Varnum company consists of the
,rtion of the old Abbott farm living
utherly of the Graniteville highway
ID the highway leading by the Cath
ic church and of all the Bancroft
rm. The property acquired by +. L.
NTH & Company consists of the Park
farm. the Shepard purchase and a
rtion of the Abbott farm living north
" of said highway. II is stated that
e negotiations for the purchase of
is property have been going on for