Everything about the Rock of Ages’ quarry in Barre, Vermont lasts forever. In fact, that’s what Visitor Center Manager Ruthie Adams loves the most about working there.
The Rock of Ages E. L. Quarry is the largest dimensional stone quarry in the world. Founded in the 1880s, it produces copious amounts of Barre Gray blocks, which are procured and used for the building of other monuments and buildings. A tour of the 600-foot-deep quarry invites visitors to not only see breathtaking sights, but understand exactly how this process is done.
A 14-passenger van takes guests on a three mile drive through the active quarry site. At the site itself, visitors stand on a platform that’s 1,450 feet high, allowing them to glance down at the deep quarry and see the workers in action.
“The birds-eye-view is really unique from that platform as well,” said Adams. “You can see for miles and miles on a clear, beautiful day. The vistas are quite magical.”
But it may be hard to notice even the most scenic of views when there’s such an immense quarry right below your feet. Over 100 years of work is documented in the granite itself. The geometric lines and ridges on the sides of the granite walls are a one-of-a-kind sight. They not only show the immense amount of work that’s been put into getting granite out of the quarry, but you can still see how much is left.
“There’s enough granite left here for another 4,500 years,” said Adams. “That’s how much we have. That, in itself, is unique. This business can go on forever. It was the backbone of Barre for many years. And in many ways it still is.”
Heavy equipment, including diamond saws, is used to cut the granite from the earth. According to Adams, the only thing harder than granite is diamond. This is a big change from when the quarry was first founded, when the workers had to use a Derrick system made out of Douglas Fur trees to lift the blocks out of the quarry.
The Rock of Ages tour usually begins at the modern Visitors Center [ Photo/Rock of Ages]
For many visitors, something that stands out about their tour of Rock of Ages are their tour guides. Many recall their guide’s enthusiasm and knowledge. It helps that most of them are former employees of Rock of Ages, who have a lot of inside knowledge, trivia, and stories to tell.
After the quarry, visitors are invited on a self-guided plant tour to witness the manufacturing team at work. The 160,000 sq. ft. space includes master carvers, turning stone into monuments, headstones, and mausoleums, many of which can be seen at the nearby Hope Cemetery.
“We create lasting legacies for families,” said Adams. “That’s part of our heart and soul, honoring loved ones. It’s the care and love that goes into what we create for those who passed away. One of my favorite stories is when a visitor asked our master carver how he knew what to do. He said, ‘I don’t decide. The stone tells me what to do.’ I think that, to me, tells of our commitment to the lasting legacy of what we do here.”
Not only will the granite quarry last forever, but so will the memories of the loved ones they honor with the granite itself.
Many years ago, a young man passed away unexpectedly. His brother told them that all he ever wanted was a Mercedes. Using a 66-ton block of granite, the master carvers created a 30-ton life-size Mercedes monument in his memory. It took them two years.
Their granite has also been used in many 9/11 memorials, and for a lot of celebrities. Along with Rock of Ages’ other nearby quarry in Bethel, Vermont, they’ve also provided the granite for a lot of buildings found around the world. The Wisconsin State Capital, and the La Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris are both made of Bethel White granite. The Vermont State Capital is made out of Barre Gray granite, and is about 15 minutes from the E. L. Quarry.
“It’s such a beautiful state house,” said Adams. “The Wisconsin State Capital is also gorgeous. Just knowing that our work is over in France, over in Abu Dhabi… It’s that sense of pride that little old Vermont had all these amazing projects that are world-known.”
Many of the master carvers have a long family history in that profession. Most have been taught by their parent, who was taught by their parent before them. A lot of their work cannot be replicated elsewhere.
Back at the Visitors Center, guests can watch videos to understand the entire process at the quarry. They can also check out historical exhibits. Then there’s the world’s only granite bowling alley right outside. Visitors are also given a free piece of granite to take home.
For Doug S. from Plymouth, Massachusetts, it wasn’t only the tour guides that made the visit memorable, but that piece of the quarry that he got to take home with him.
“We even brought home some pieces of Rock of Ages granite, which had been broken off in the carving process. I seem to recall hearing that over the course of a year, visitors to Rock of Ages carry off about 80 tons of those broken granite samples. The pieces we brought home will be used to decorate a garden,” he said.
At Rock of Ages, it’s not only the quarry and its products that last forever, the memories you make along the tour last forever, too.
There is plenty of parking (free parking) for campers and RV on site.