Norcross Brothers Granite Quarry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Norcross Brothers Granite Quarry
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Quarry Rd., Branford, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 69 acres (28 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000315 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 2003 |
The Norcross Brothers Granite Quarry, sometimes called the Castellucci Quarry, is a historic granite quarry located on Quarry Road in Branford, Connecticut. It started operating in 1887 thanks to the Norcross Brothers construction company. This quarry was super important because it supplied strong granite for many famous buildings and structures. For example, granite from here was used for the base of the Statue of Liberty! The quarry worked until 1980.
In 2003, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historical site. Today, the town owns the quarry, and it's a quiet place where people can enjoy nature.
Contents
What is the Norcross Brothers Quarry Like Today?
The old Norcross Brothers Granite Quarry is in a quiet, natural area in eastern Branford. It's at the very end of Quarry Road. Even though this historic part is no longer active, there's still some quarrying happening nearby.
Exploring the Historic Quarry Site
The historic quarry looks like a big, half-circle cut into a hillside. It has a "stepped" face, meaning it looks like giant stairs going up. This part of the quarry rises about 50 feet (15 meters) high and is about 300 feet (91 meters) wide. The bottom part of the quarry is now filled with water, so we can't see how deep it goes.
You can still see some cool old things at the quarry. There's a wooden derrick near the top, which was a crane-like machine used to lift heavy stones. You might also find old foundations from a stone-cutting shop closer to the road. The whole area is scattered with pieces of stone and old tools, giving you a peek into its past.
Who Were the Norcross Brothers?
The Norcross Brothers opened this quarry in 1887. They were a construction company based in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company started in 1864 and became one of the most famous construction firms in the United States by the late 1800s.
Famous Buildings Made with Norcross Granite
The Norcross Brothers owned several stone quarries, and they used the materials from these quarries for building projects all over the country. Stone from this specific quarry in Branford was used in some very important places. It helped build the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library in New Orleans. Most famously, it was used for the base of the iconic Statue of Liberty!
How the Quarry Changed Branford
The quarry had a big impact on the local town of Branford. It created many jobs, which brought a lot of new people, especially immigrants, to the area. This changed the town's population and economy quite a bit. The Norcross Brothers sold the quarry in 1926. After that, it operated on and off until it finally closed down in 1980.
