New Hampshire's nickname is The Granite State. In the early 1800s, an infantryman by the name of Captain Burns first quarried granite from his farm in Milford, the slabs were carried 15 miles by oxen to my city, where it was used to build steps for a church. One of his quarries is still in intermittent operation today.
Milford became quite famous for quarrying high quality granite, pieces of which made their way to buildings around New England. The highest quality pieces were carved in to statues and monuments by sculptors and artisans in Milford, many of whom were employed directly by the quarry. The coarser grain pieces surrounding the high quality slabs were not as desireable, and were cut in to curbstone for streets and access ways.
In the 1890s, the Brookline & Milford railroad was built, directly connecting Burns' and other quarries with the city of Fitchburg, MA. From there, the granite could be transported to Boston where it was used in buildings such as the Boston Public Library. Or it could be shipped to cities further afield, such as Washington, DC. 30,000,000 tons of our granite went to building the Library of Congress!
The quarries went in to sharp decline in the 1920s, with the refinement of cement and asphalt for buildings and roads. The Brookline & Milford fell in to disuse in the Great Depression and finally decommissioned in the 1940s, where it's rails were removed to help meet the wartime demand for steel.
Some 50 years later, a portion of the old right of way was turned in to a trail, thanks to the collective efforts of the towns, some area clubs, and private property owners. Photos to follow
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Milford became quite famous for quarrying high quality granite, pieces of which made their way to buildings around New England. The highest quality pieces were carved in to statues and monuments by sculptors and artisans in Milford, many of whom were employed directly by the quarry. The coarser grain pieces surrounding the high quality slabs were not as desireable, and were cut in to curbstone for streets and access ways.
In the 1890s, the Brookline & Milford railroad was built, directly connecting Burns' and other quarries with the city of Fitchburg, MA. From there, the granite could be transported to Boston where it was used in buildings such as the Boston Public Library. Or it could be shipped to cities further afield, such as Washington, DC. 30,000,000 tons of our granite went to building the Library of Congress!
The quarries went in to sharp decline in the 1920s, with the refinement of cement and asphalt for buildings and roads. The Brookline & Milford fell in to disuse in the Great Depression and finally decommissioned in the 1940s, where it's rails were removed to help meet the wartime demand for steel.
Some 50 years later, a portion of the old right of way was turned in to a trail, thanks to the collective efforts of the towns, some area clubs, and private property owners. Photos to follow
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