Maine Dix Island Granite

The first building contract was for the u s.

Maine dix island granite.

We will be open daily through october from 10 am to 4 pm. Today it s home to a handful of summer houses. Contributed by the maine granite industry historical society. Because of granite towns grew rapidly in places like vinalhaven dix island and hurricane island.

After the mining operations and periodic post mining use of the buildings ceased circa 1914 the island was once again abandoned. Dixon owners of the company shipped the first granite pilasters on the schooner mary cobb to morgan s wharf at washington d c. C all 244 7299 to reserve your visit. Some of the unique features on the island include three water filled quarry pits.

The dix island granite company started operations in 1856. Nearby dix island hosted a very active granite industry in the 1870 s. On hurricane island the work force rose to over 600 in 1878 five years after the quarry opened. Vinalhaven had 1200 1500 men working at its peak.

When beals acquired it along with several neighboring islands dix was a tiny potential granite quarry. Horace beals and c. Treasury building in washington d c. The schooner ephraim williams built for beals and dixon also carried stone for the treasury building.

62 beech hill cross road. The largest quarry is on the. The organizing meeting of the granite cutters union was held at clark island in the town of st. While private its owners welcome polite visits from day tripping boaters.

In 1871 authorities responsible for building the new capitol in albany new york visited dix as well a quarries in hallowell and vinalhaven. And its fascinating history of granite quarrying filled with. The first building contract was for the u s. George on january 2 1877.

Dix island is about three miles off the coast of rockland maine. Original five page article not a copy from vintage magazine 1963 the stone age of dix island by norman drinkwater jr. The dix island granite company started operations in 1856. Dix island granite company ca 1880.

Very interesting and informative article about dix island a smaller than most of the other links in the chain of mussel ridge islands huddled together seven or eight miles south of rockland maine. You must wear a face mask and keep the required distance during your visit. According to the united states geological survey starting in the 1850 s granite quarried at dix island maine was shipped by sea to washington and was used for facings and columns in the treasury building the new york and philadelphia post offices were also built with granite from the island. Granite from crotch island and the islands of vinalhaven hurricane swan s dix and high was used in such well known buildings as rockefeller center chicago s board of trade the.

Treasury building in washington d c. After being closed for the first part of the summer the museum will now be open by appointment to couples and small family groups.