As the Barre community prepares for its Heritage Festival next week on July 23 – 27, Rock of Ages Visitors Center and quarry tours highlight the origins and culture of the city’s longstanding granite industry.
Quarriers have evolved their trade in Barre for about two hundred years. These native Yankees were joined by European immigrants, primarily from Scotland and northern Italy, about 130 years ago when the Barre granite industry experienced a “boom” due to better drills and access to railroad.
“From homecoming, to the Italian Village Dance and the 5K race at Millstone, the vibrant history, art, and music scene profiled by the Festival reflects a community culture that honors its past as an integral part of its identity,” notes Todd Paton, Director of Visitor Services at the Rock of Ages Visitors Center.
Paton continues, “Similarly, Rock of Ages’ culture and employees reflect Barre’s diverse heritage. Our guests on Quarry Hill are quite taken with the story of the people who created the largest deep-hole dimension quarry in the world, and how this craft grew to be a sustaining industry in Barre.”
“From visitors to employees to guests, our community embraces the quarrying of rough stone that develops into world-class monuments, gifts, and high-tech elements employed in aerospace and other cutting-edge industries.”
In addition to Rock of Ages’ tour experience and the many local products at the Visitors Center gift shop, new this year from among the Vermont-made items and granite products made by local crafters are stone wine stoppers created from Barre Gray and Bethel White granite. The Visitors Center offers guests a self-guided factory tour, sandblasting activity, and granite bowling.
The Visitors Center is open 9 am-5 pm, Monday through Saturday, through August 30. The Center is open seven days a week from September 1 – October 31. Guided quarry tours are available from 9:15 am – 3:35 pm when the Visitors Center until October 17th; self-guided factory tours are available any time beginning at 8 am. For more information or holiday closings, please see our website: rockofages.com.
Source: Rock of Ages Visitors Center, July 14, 2014
United States