USA > Maine > Hancock County > Stonington > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 3
USA > Maine > Knox County > Isle au Haut > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 3
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Deer Isle > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
The first granite quarry was opened at Greens Landing (now Stoning- ton) about 1865 or 1868 on the section known as Green Head, on a bluff overlooking Moose Island and Allen's Cove, by Job Goss, Sr., then from Vinalhaven, and in a few years he opened up the site on Crotch Island now owned and operated by the John L. Goss Corp. Other quarries operating shortly afterwards in this vicinity were Russ & Newall from Belfast, Bray Brothers, Russ & Merrill, Eaton & Grant, and many others. About 1872, Goss, Marks & Walker operated the "John McDonald Quarry" south of the standpipe.
In the fall of 1885, Ben and Charles Thurlow, brothers, under the name of B. S. & C. C. Thurlow, opened up a quarry on the east slope of Thurlows Hill. In about two years they sold this opening to John Shields and John Carroll, large construction men who were operating in the region of St. Catherines, Ontario, building railroads, etc., but at that time had been awarded the contract to build the Harvard Bridge over the Charles River, Boston. Needing a large amount of granite and hearing of the reputation of "Greens Landing" stone brought them to this vicinity.
A rail track to the quarry had been laid from their shipping dock at the extremity of Bay View street (seen now as the enlarged dock of the John L. Goss Corp. and used as a landing by the Vinalhaven & Swans Island Steamboat Co.'s boats). The track ran northwesterly across the Clam City road, just east of where the Catholic Church stands, and entered East Main street north of the old boarding house known as "The Ship."
The Thurlows opened up a new site and built a dock just south of the Standard Oil Co.'s tanks, on Atlantic Avenue, that has become to be
[36]
Western end of Main Street about 1885 showing the old Music Hall on the right and the road eading to the quarry of Russ & Bray behind the hall. Union Trust Company's branch bank now tands in about the middle of the old quarry road. Nearly across, on the left, was the general store ( Chas. A. Russ which burned and the hotel was built on the site which also burned. Russ' xen have just passed through the gate on their way to the quarry.
The street continued on through the gate, turning abruptly off to the left in front of Sullivan Green's house, yet known as the "Old Green House," and going by Green's "Eureka" hall (begin- hing of roof seen over Russ' store) ended at the store and wharf of Charles Eaton. Not a house had then been built on Green Head.
E
-
A scene showing how they worked on the quarry of Shields & Carroll, on east slope of Thurlow's Hill, in the days of horse-power.
CROTCH ISLAND
An island of solid granite on which are two of the world's greatest granite quarries.
Settlement Quarry Scenes
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
known as the "Hagan & Wilcox" dock. Harry Otis Fuller was super- intendent for Shields & Carroll, and he boarded with "Aunt Mary Wells" in the house now owned and occupied by Frank McGuire of the "Deer Island Granite Corp." on Sea Breeze Avenue.
Later, Sylvester Neelon took the place of Carroll and, under the name of Neelon & Shields, conducted a large quarry on Devil Island, which they bought of William Small for the small sum of $1000.
Much excitement was created on the whole island when this concern had a fine pack of horses, consisting of six blacks, two whites, and three bays, sent here by train from Ontario to Bangor, thence being brought across the Reach, driven down the island, and taken from here to Devil Island. While in Stonington they were housed in Sullivan Green's barn that stood where the Latter Day Saint Church lane leaves West Main street.
It was to work in the employ of this Devil Island concern that many of our well-known Deer Isle granite men first made their appearance in Greens Landing; Anthony Bye coming from Ontario in December 1887 to work on the Harvard Bridge foundation, and William Mckenzie, who was first connected with Shields & Carroll on Thurlows Hill, came April 11, 1888, and was later manager of the Casey & Sherwood concern ; these two men being the only representatives now living here from that under- taking.
About 1897-8, Mckenzie was put in charge of the John L. Goss Corp. quarry on Crotch Island and we all know how wonderfully the business has prospered and grown under his management until it is an enterprise well up in the million-dollar class. Mr. Mckenzie is the central figure of this stupendous growth; his mechanical training and aptitude to do the right thing just at the right time has put the quarry to the forefront of any in America, while a dozen other quarries "went down and out."
From the beginning, there was a great demand for Deer Isle granite, the best being found on Crotch Island, the area of which is about three- fourths of a mile long and one-half mile wide and is solid granite, superior to any in New England. Ryan (Patrick) and Parker and Casey & Sher- wood also operated quarries on Crotch Island. John Kelley, first with Michael G. Ryan and later with John C. Rogers, opened up a hill adja- cent to Oceanville, at a place called the "Marsh Settlement," giving it the name of the Settlement quarry. Many other quarries, too numerous to mention, have been operated here, including sites on Russ or Harvey's
[39]
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
Island, Merchants, Spruce, Scotts, Green, St. Helena, and Moose Island where a quarry was first opened by Allen Brothers.
The principal quarries operating at present are the John L. Goss Corp. and the Deer Island Granite Co., both on Crotch Island. The Deer Island Granite Company (including what was formerly the Benvenue site) boasts the largest gang saw ever constructed, having a capacity of 100 tons and capable of handling a block of stone 16 feet long and 8 feet wide. It is encased in a fireproof structure and 'operated by a 50-horse- power electric motor.
This latter company, undoubtedly, owes much of its success and prosperity to the excellent management and forethought of Frank McGuire. He started his granite career here as manager of the cutters at the John C. Rogers quarry at the Settlement and when Supt. Martin Hayes retired from the scene, Mr. Rogers quickly comprehended that McGuire was just the man to fill the place, and so efficiently did things move thereafter that Frank continued to handle Rogers' affairs up to the time of his death or retirement from this field of action.
Deer Isle (Stonington) has been the main factor entering into the erec- tion of many beautiful stone buildings, monoliths and mausoleums, throughout the country. The George Washington pedestal, West Point, N. Y .; Museum of Fine Arts and first story of the Federal Reserve Bank, Boston ; Fountain Memorial to Pilgrim Women, Plymouth, Mass., and the Drexel Bank Building, Philadelphia, Pa., are among many well- known "Goss Pink Deer Isle" granite structures. The largest fountain bowl in the world, on the John D. Rockefeller estate at Tarrytown, N. Y., was fashioned from one ashlar weighing over 200 tons in its rough state when Goss began cutting it at his quarry. The big New York Municipal Court House, superintended by Mr. McGuire'at the Rogers quarry ; top layer of New Orleans breakwater; Brooklyn Postoffice; Tri-borough Bridge, N. Y., and the Security Trust & Savings Bank at Los Angeles, California, all represent products involving the Deer Isle Granite Co., as well. The Goss concern is now engaged in cutting stone for the Rip Van Winkle bridge near Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and Henry Benisch has recently started activities on his St. Helena quarry, where he is getting out a fine stone for mausoleum work.
Granite quarries, in keeping with all other depressed business the last two years have been at a general standstill throughout the country, but the Deer Isle quarries have had a little more than their share of work and now anticipate a big contract for the coming year to bring back the old days of prosperity-even though we haven't suffered as much depression as
[40]
Early scene showing section of John L. Goss Corp. quarry on Crotch Island.
Office Entrance, Federal Reserve Bank, Boston
Samples of structures built from Crotch Island Granite
The ferry just leaving Deer Isle (going out around the steamboat wharf) for Sargentville. During the summer months there is traffic enough across the Eggemoggin Reach to keep two ferries constantly plying back and forth. The largest scow accommodates six cars. This sys- tem is very ineffective in the winter and during heavy tempests, ice being the worst barrier in its season. Consequently, everybody senses the crying need for some form of bridge connection from the mainland at Sedgwick-the most pratical location being a link from Byard's Point to Little Sally Island; thence to the southeast end of Little Deer Isle where a raised road across the tidal bar carries the traveler to the main island of Deer Isle. This would give con- stant 24-hour-service where the ferry now supplies us only through the day, besides ample encouragement for a reduction of the present $3.00 round-trip rate to one of $2.00, or less.
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
others-and give employment to not only the local men but many others in this trade badly in need of work in this section of the country.
BRIDGING THE EGGEMOGGIN
Deer Isle presents a distinct contrast to many other island settlements and small communities that have "seen better days," in that it has never been content to accept conditions as, they were, but, instead, has kept "onward and upward," year after year, building and improving; adopting a very liberal telephone network; installing electric power and lights; constructing macadam roads; erecting lodges and churches (the island now boasting of 12 fraternities and 14 houses of worship) ; and remodel- ing and building schoolhouses until now a great surprise awaits the astonished city visitor when he finds himself in the midst of all the com- forts and conveniences he has been cherishing at home. All of these have been accomplished through the unceasing efforts of a class of citizens who have been endowed with that optimistic spirit of progressiveness and development seemingly instilled into the eight generations that have come down from those sturdy pioneer ancestors of a century and a half ago.
This is written as a mere outline and sketch of a very interesting history that, dating from the "Period of Discovery," has been over three centuries in the making. Deer Isle has so much more to offer now than then that this fact is being realized by the increasing number of tourists who visit our shores each summer. Deer Isle is so fast becoming a noted summer resort that in this capacity its future mainly lies. Along its precipitous banks and rugged shores are many beautiful summer hotels interspersed with cozy cottage sites, from which locations occupants can rest sheltered from the sweltering heat of a long summer's day and, gazing far seaward among the many islets, marvel at the elegance of the scene portrayed.
Deer Isle is beckoning the tourist to come and enjoy its many offer- ings-beautiful sunsets; little nooks and coves (ideal spots for picnics, clam bakes and bathing) ; miles of wonderful roads; a fine 9-hole golf course and a public tennis court, along with nearly every other form of recreation and amusement that the individual seeks to enjoy-all these, Deer Isle wants all visitors who care to cross the waters of Eggemoggin Reach to share with her.
Yet, with all these blessings, Deer Isle is severely handicapped because of its present lack of easy transportation to and from the main. To over- come this, the citizens are now straining every possible means to make the state realize the importance of a bridge to connect the island with the mainland at Sargentville. Though Deer Isle has now utilized and
[43]
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
improved about every industry within reach its people are not content to stop here. They want to open new fields of opportunities for the younger generations; and new projects must have aid from outside sources in order to grow and mature.
So, for the first time in the history of the island, we are seeking the interest of neighbors and friends and those to whom we have always shown our readiness to lend a hand and to patronize. We also ask, not only our State, but, especially, the Government at Washington to render that vital assistance needed to give us easy access to the surrounding country. It's not too big a thing we're asking ; it's what we feel we deserve from the present administration's policy to make available to the State our portion of the funds the Government at Washington should immediately provide in its aim to further the development of public works.
If a small portion of it cannot be utilized for this extremely vital project, Deer Isle is doomed to plod along for the future generations with its old-time ferry as the sole outlet to the mainland. In other words, we must continue to think of bedtime at 9 o'clock in the summer and 6 in the winter (from Oct. 15 to June 1) as far as intercourse with the outside world is concerned. No matter what calamity may befall during those hours of darkness or how urgently a relative or friend may need removal from his sick bed for hospitalization, across that narrow watery barrier all lies still and nothing can be done until the hands of the clock slowly reach that point where the old scow is dragged from its nightly mooring to again face the day.
Deer Isle is, and always has been, the home of a great many influential, public spirited citizens who aspire to take an active part and to mingle in the universal doings of the county and State at large, and feel they should no longer be subjected to depressing agitations not unlike what was experi- enced by the early colonists when they were continually confronted with the problem of "taxation without representation," at a time when every- thing seemed to be going out and but very little ever coming back.
So it finally comes to the grave question now uppermost in the minds of all: Will these energetic toilers receive the reward for which they are earnestly striving-a bridge to span Eggemoggin Reach and thus connect Deer Isle with Sargentville on the main? What could be a more fitting memorial to those old sturdy pioneer ancestors who braved the savage foes, wrestled with the barren soil, and paddled day by day across the Egge- mnoggin, and whose legacy savors of a brilliant history of wonderful accom- plishments and brave deeds so well and faithfully done? To them I humbly dedicate this sketch.
[44]
APR 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.