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10/26/2017 12:01 AMVisitors to the Stony Creek Quarry in Branford at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 will view the past, present, and future of this site. First will be a look into the past to view the cavernous quarry that yielded the world-famous Stony Creek granite for historic projects.
Next, those on tour will ride a shuttle up to the current quarry site that now provides pink granite to the country’s top architects.
Unk DaRos and Carl Balestracci, both quarry historians and descendants of quarrymen, will share stories of the quarry’s history. They’ll describe the lives and work of the quarrymen and the dangers they faced on a daily basis. At their peak around 1900, the quarries along the Branford-Guilford shoreline employed more than 1,800 men. Builders used Stony Creek granite for The West Point Battle Monument and the steps of Yale’s Woolsey Hall, as well as parts of the Brooklyn Bridge and Grant’s Tomb.
There will be new stories from Balestracci, who has just completed a book on the neighboring Beattie Quarry, which provided the stone for the base of the Statue of Liberty. His book, John Beattie and His Quarrymen: Building America Stone by Stone, will be available for sale at the quarry. All proceeds from the book will be shared by the Guilford Keeping Society and The Stony Creek Museum.
The quarry has more than historic significance. There is enough granite left for another 350 years. After the historic section of the tour and a van ride to the modern quarry site, visitors will hear from a quarry staff member about quarrying techniques. These days, the Stony Creek granite is in demand by such architects and landscape architects as Michael Graves and Michael Van Valkenburgh. Recent projects include work at Quinnipiac University, Columbia University, The Battery Park Conservancy, and the Javits Federal Plaza in New York City.
The Guilford Keeping Society and the Stony Creek Museum are organizing the tour in collaboration with the quarry. The proceeds will benefit both historic organizations. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and will be limited to 100 people. Tickets are available at Page Hardware and Breakwater Books in Guilford, as well as the quarry itself and Taken for Granite in Stony Creek. Tickets are $15 in advance or at the quarry. Because of the rough terrain, children aged 10 and under will not be admitted. On arriving at the quarry, visitors will be asked to sign a liability waiver. Organizers suggest that those who might have trouble standing for an hour might like to bring a folding chair.
Parking will be available inside the quarry gates. Directions to the quarry from the Guilford Green: Route 146 for 4.2 miles, right on Quarry Road (in Branford) to the end. Directions from Stony Creek: Route 146 for 0.6 miles, left on Quarry Road. For more information, visit the GKS website guilfordkeepingsociety.com or call 203-453-2263.