Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Hubbard Free Library

Description

The first granite quarried in Hallowell was taken from the property of John Hains, about three miles west of the village, in 1815. The stone was shipped to Boston where it was used for the cornice stones of Quincy Market. The area was later called "Hains Ledge". The stone was removed by placing "rising wedges" into hand-drilled holes in the granite and then splitting it into pieces. In later years steam drills and steam operated derrick cranes were used to remove large pieces of stone which were carried into town on large wagons called galamanders. This image shows the largest piece of granite to be quarried at Hallowell being lifted by ropes and wedges to be placed on a cart or wagon for transportation. The quarry worker gives scale to the granite slab.

View/Add Comments

---

About This Item

• Title: Largest Granite Slab cut from Hains Ledge Quarry, Hallowell, ca. 1895
• Creation Date: circa 1895
• Subject Date: circa 1895
• Location: Hains Ledge, Hallowell, Kennebec County, ME
• Media: Photographic print
• Dimensions: 9.5 cm x 11.9 cm
• Local Code: B-9
• Object Type: Image

---

Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Granite--Maine--Hallowell
• Granite industry and trade--Maine--Hallowell
• Firsts--Maine--Hallowell
• Curiosities & wonders--Maine--Hallowell
• Granite quarrying--Maine--Hallowell

---

For more information about this item, contact:

Hubbard Free Library
115 Second Street, Hallowell, ME 04347
(207) 622-6882
Website

---

---

Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.