Beck and Beck Granite Shed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beck and Beck Granite Shed
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 34 Granite St., Barre, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architectural style | Straight Granite Shed |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000714 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 2011 |
Have you ever wondered how big blocks of stone become beautiful statues or gravestones? The Beck and Beck Granite Shed in Barre, Vermont, is a special old building that shows us how! Built in 1933, this historic shed was once a busy factory where workers shaped huge pieces of granite. It's a rare example of a rectangular granite shed, a newer type of building for processing stone.
The Beck and Beck Company, started by early German immigrants, used this shed until 1960. Today, it's home to a non-profit group that reuses building materials. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Contents
What is a Granite Shed?
A granite shed is like a big workshop where rough granite blocks are turned into finished products. These products often include things like gravestones, monuments, or building parts. The Beck and Beck Granite Shed was designed to make this process easier and more efficient.
The Building's Design
The Beck and Beck Granite Shed is located on Granite Street in Barre. It's a long, rectangular building made of wood, about 130 feet (40 m) long and 75 feet (23 m) wide. It has a pointed roof with special windows near the top, called clerestory windows, that let in lots of light.
There's also a smaller office building attached to the front. Other parts have been added over time, making it a unique structure. The building's design helped workers move heavy granite blocks around easily.
A History of Stone Working
The main part of the shed was built in 1933. It replaced an older, horseshoe-shaped granite shed that was used before. The Beck and Beck Company started way back in 1898. The Beck family were German immigrants who used to work with iron. They decided to start a granite business in Vermont.
How Granite Was Moved
The new 1933 shed was built to make moving granite much simpler. It used a new invention called an overhead traveling bridge crane. Imagine a giant crane that could move heavy granite blocks all over the rectangular building! This was a big improvement.
Before, older sheds used a derrick crane. This was a crane with a long arm, like a boom, in the middle of the building. It could only reach certain areas. The new bridge crane meant workers could move granite blocks anywhere inside the shed.
From Factory to Community Hub
The Beck and Beck Granite Shed was used for shaping granite until 2009. After the Beck family, other companies used the building for granite work. Now, it's home to a group called ReSOURCE. This local non-profit organization takes donated building materials and gives them a new life. They also help people learn new job skills.
Other Historic Places to See
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Vermont
- E. L. Smith Roundhouse Granite Shed: Another historic granite shed in Barre, Vermont.
- Lyon's Turning Mill: A historic granite mill located in Quincy, Massachusetts.
