Vinalhaven Quarry Restoration Project
Vinalhaven Quarry Restoration Project
Bodwell Granite Company is the original name of the stone quarry operation at Sands Quarry and East Boston Quarry on Vinalhaven from the 1840s through the 1970s. This project endeavors to restore these quarry sites using traditional tools and methods, preserving history in place.
Stone from these quarries can be found all over the country. Many contracts to provide stone for government buildings and paving stones were awarded to the Bodwell Granite Company. Pillars at St. John the Divine, carvings of the faces of immigrants on the New York Customs House, and the eagles on many of post office buildings across the northeast are some of the more visually-recognized stone pieces to come from the island.
This quarry restoration initiative is a project of Vinalhaven resident James Dickey. He can trace is family line back to the Mayflower by telling the history of the quarries. His family has been practicing traditional stone working methods at the quarry sites since the 1800s.
General William Bradford played a key role at the quarries. Stay tuned…Skeet is going to have to fill in part of history, he can tell it much better.
BODWELL and LANE & LIBBY QUARRY CHINA
Thank you to Anna Welsch for finding and donating this selection of Bodwell Granite (blue) and Lane & Libby (white) china made in Germany and Austria respectively and commissioned by the original quarry companies.
We are gratefully accepting any additional pieces to complete the set.
Volunteer or Visit
East Boston and Sands quarries are located on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine and are accessible by ferry. If you are interested in a tour of the properties and /or would like to help out, please contact James Dickey at 207-701-7362.
A HISTORY OF THE QUARRIES THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS
Sands Quarry
When quarry was open 1848 white sandy beach and groot dumped over it. Groot is a Scottish word for waste.
Big Shed & Cutting Yard
The Bodwell Granite Company was awarded contracts to supply granite for many of the post offices, government buildings and Civil War monuments across the northeast. In most major cities, when you go in a granite post office, you will see Vinalhaven granite as well a Vinalhaven granite eagle.
General Wool’s Monument
Produced from the Sands Quarry, this 75’ monolith is a single piece of granite and marks the final resting place of General John Ellis Wool in Troy, NY.
East Boston Quarry
Jonesboro Red Granite
Red granite came down the coast from Jonesboro on ships to Hurricane Island for different projects including early models of the iconic horse trough, the pillars at the Vinalhaven Library, the Brooklyn Bridge and many more buildings across the country.
