Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 25] CHAPTER II DESCRIPTION OF STONE QUARRIES RICHARD WINSOR, editor of The Huron County News in 1870 gave the following sketch of the quarries at Grindstone City in his paper: "June 16 we have started for a trip down the shore which we had not yet beheld. After getting in a by-road or two at the end of which we always brought up in a tree top light was seen ahead through a rift in the woods and the stone quarries came in view. These quar- ries are two in number and are situated six miles below Port Austin. It is thought that some unknown voyagers discovered at this point the existence of a quality of stone the grit or grain of which is far and widely known as being superior to that of any other quarries in the world for grindstones, scythe stones, etc. A company under the name of PEASE & SMITH located the first quar- ry and continued the opening and getting out of stone with varied success for about ten years. Capt. PEER was related to one of the firm who later died and his prop- erty passed into Capt. PEER'S hands through heirship. He then ran the business for a few years and finally dis- posed of his entire interest to WALLACE & PRENTISS, its [page 26] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY present owners. WILLIAM H. COOPER opened the second quarry in 1865. The capital stock in these two com- panies is in that of WALLACE & PRENTISS' Lake Huron Grindstone Quarry $20,000; in that owned by Mr. COOP- ER $10,000. Total, $30,000. In a season at the first named of these quarries 1,900 tons of stone are manufac- tured and at the other 1,500 tons, making a total of 3,400 tons manufactured, docked and shipped during the season. In connection with the four new lathes for turning grindstones in the quarry of WALLACE & PRENTISS is to be found the shop for the making of whet stones and so forth. Two gangs of saws are at work as we en- ter, which saw masses of rock placed under them into slabs about one inch in thickness. These are then squared and placed under a descending saw which slices them into rough scythe stones. The finisher then takes them in hand and by means of wearing them on a revolving cylinder produces the finely shaped and well finished whetstones and heel stones that we buy in the harvest time in the village stores. There are two distinct grades of rock in the quar- ries termed from their respective qualities, the light and heavy rock. The light rock is from 12 to 15 feet deep, while the heavy rock is five or 10 feet deeper. The rock lies in strata varying from two to three inches to six feet in thickness; the top sheets being very light. The grindstones made here vary in weight from three pounds to three and one-half tons. They are shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada and also to Ger- many, Russia and other foreign countries. About 80 men are employed at these works and these with their families form quite a community which bears the ap- propriate sobriquet of Grindstone City. Besides the manufactured stone there is shipped from here large quantities of building stone to the various cities on the lakes. Ever since the first opening the quarries have increased in importance and thousands of dollars have [page 27] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY been expanded in improvements such as shipping docks, warehouses and so forth." We find that W. COOPER sold his quarry in 1871 to WORTHINGTON & Sons. JAMES WALLACE was the first partner in the firm who bought from Capt. PEER but later took into partnership ROBERT WALLACE, of Grindstone City, FRANK B. WALLACE and E. L. WALLACE, of Detroit taking the name of the Lake Huron Stone Company. ROBERT WALLACE, whose name is connected with the business came to America from Ireland when but a lad of 15. He worked as a laborer in the quarry from 1854 to 1864, then secured the position of manager and finally became the chief proprietor in 1868. His family have evinced the same traits of industry and ability and are well known throughout the state today for their active work in business, political and social life. In 1874 the first post office was established with JAMES GREEN as postmaster. In 1888 the Cleveland Stone Company purchased all the property owned by the Lake Huron Stone Company and thus became the sole proprietors of the quarry property at Grindstone City. They employed about 150 men and manufactured about 35 to 40 tons of grindstones daily. One grindstone made here weighed six tons. In 1860 J. B. JOHNSON, afterward so well known in the county, came to Grindstone City, where he and a brother of his were engaged in the quarry business. Mrs. JOHNSON taught school here on account of the scarcity of teachers. Their home was often used as a preaching place for the traveling M. E. preachers of that period. ===========================================================================