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 |
The Beck and Beck Granite Shed is a historic building located at 34 Granite Street in Barre, Vermont. It was built in 1933. This shed is a rare example of a rectangular building used for processing granite. The Beck and Beck Company was started by some of the first German immigrants in the area. They operated the business until 1960. Today, the building is home to a non-profit organization and a store. This group reuses and recycles building materials. The shed was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Contents
Exploring the Granite Shed
The Beck and Beck Granite Shed stands on the southeast side of Granite Street. It is located across the railroad tracks from downtown Barre. The main part of the shed is a long, rectangular building made of wood. It is about 130 feet (40 meters) long and 75 feet (23 meters) wide. The roof is gabled, meaning it slopes down on two sides. It also has a band of clerestory windows, which are windows placed high up to let in light.
How the Building is Designed
Several other structures are connected to the main shed. An office building is attached to the front, facing the street. It has a saltbox shape, which means one side of the roof is longer than the other. To the left of the office is another building with a simple shed roof. About halfway down the main structure, there is a section that sticks out to the right. A long gabled building is connected to the main shed in the space created by this projection.
The Beck and Beck Company History
The main shed was built in 1933. It replaced an older granite shed that was shaped like a horseshoe. The Beck and Beck Company started in 1898. It was founded by members of the Beck family. They were German immigrants who had mostly worked with iron before coming to Vermont.
Moving Granite with Cranes
This new building was designed to make it easier to move granite. Granite blocks were transformed from raw material into finished products. These often included cemetery markers. The design used a new invention called the overhead traveling bridge crane. This type of crane could move heavy granite blocks all around the rectangular building. Before this, older horseshoe-shaped buildings used a derrick crane. This crane was placed in the center and had a long arm called a boom. It moved blocks within the reach of its boom.
From Granite to Recycling
The building continued to be used for processing granite for many years. After 1976, different owners used it for the same purpose. This continued until 2009. Now, the building houses ReSOURCE. This is a local non-profit organization. ReSOURCE reuses donated building materials. They also offer job training and other helpful programs to the community.
More Historic Places
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Vermont
- E. L. Smith Roundhouse Granite Shed: Another granite shed in Barre, Vermont, also listed on the National Register.
- Lyon's Turning Mill: A historic granite mill located in Quincy, Massachusetts.
