Historic Hallowell

Natural resource development in Maine's early history relied on raw materials, ease of processing and convenient transportation. Hallowell has high-quality, fine grained granite close to the river. Outcroppings like those of Hain’s Ledge Quarry just a couple miles west of town provided easy access to the raw material and it was almost all down hill to the riverbank!

Surface granite was worked to produce foundation stones, mill stones and door sills. Cornice stones for Boston's Quincy Market, for example, were produced beginning in 1815.

Before derrick cranes and steam winches large pieces were extracted by means of "rising wedges," levers, block and tackle and wood bracing.

Here the largest slab cut from the quarry is raised to be placed on a cart or wagon for transportation. The quarry worker gives scale to the granite slab.

Stone and statuary were protected during shipment (by ship, and after 1852, by rail) in crates produced in the woodworking shops both at the quarry sites and at the granite works in town.

The wagon-like carriers were called "galamanders," and were usually pulled by 8 to 10 teams of horses or oxen. Granite the from the Stinchfield and Longfellow quarries on Lithgow Hill (known today as Granite Hill) to the Cutting Sheds was a challenge. Transportation too a lot of people power and a lot of animal power. The 2 1/2 mile route along Outer Winthrop Street contained wetland and a steep grade.