The first brownstone site in Durham was located on the south side of Maiden Lane, No. 35, and at the present time is filled in by soil, with a garage over some of the excavation. This quarry may have been worked by John Johnson, Jr., who lived at 19 Maiden Lane from the period of the Revolutionary War until 1825. Mr. Johnson used the brownstone to carve gravestones, many of which can be found today in the old cemetery. (See “Sandstone Grave Markers by Colonial Carvers in the Old Burying Ground” for examples of Mr. Johnson’s work.) Also note page 209 of Fowler’s History of Durham, where Mr. Fowler writes that Mr. Johnson was the maker of nearly all the freestone gravestones in the old graveyard. The stones were quarried in Durham. Again, the paper entitled “Sandstone Grave Markers” raises a question about all of the cemetery brownstone being supplied from Durham.
The next brownstone site information comes from Middlesex County History (Durham) written by Henry G. Newton, “Quarrying and Mining.” Durham has an inexhaustible supply of excellent freestone, which has been quarried in several places. The Quarry District is so-called for the quarry near the district school called Quarry School, located on the south side of Route 68, the Wallingford Road, near Main Street. This is one of three sites supplying freestone for building. The foundation of the North Congregational Church built in 1847, the Town Hall built in 1849, the old Methodist Church built in 1836, and the Episcopal Church built in 1862 are examples of brownstone foundations probably supplied from our quarries. Durham freestone was thought superior to Portland brownstone.
Stone was also taken from a quarry in the Haddam Quarter. This quarry was part of Haddam until 1773, when Haddam Quarter became part of Durham. The location was on the south side of Haddam Quarter Road, No. 229, on property of Oliver B. Coe. Today we believe the hole is filled in with the house of John DeNunzio. This quarry is more than 200 years old. The stone was taken long distances. One of the old buildings at Yale College was built largely from stone taken from this quarry, as were the houses of Benedict Arnold and Pierre Pont Edwards of New Haven. Stone was also taken to Cromwell in considerable quantities. Gravestones were made there and the old stones in graveyards for miles around were made and sold in Durham. A considerable amount of stone was taken from the premises of Samuel G. Camp, the site on Maiden Lane already noted.
We continue with Henry G. Newton’s comments regarding coal mining. A company has recently been formed to look for coal in the south part of Durham. A similar attempt was made a few years ago. A steam engine and diamond drill were employed in the work, which resulted in the finding of an excellent supply of water. See page 3 for more information on coal mining.
There is an excellent supply of Feldspar in the eastern portion of Durham. The only effort to mine it was made while looking for mica. An article from the Middletown Press, dated August 18, 2004, states the following from one hundred years ago.
“In a part of Durham known as Hemlock Ridge, there is a quantity of stone that is known for some years to have been rich in deposits of mica. At intervals, plans have been made for mining the mica for commercial purposes and some work along these lines has been done, but nothing that has proven profitable to those having the matter in charge.
“The chief desire was to get the mica in sheets that would be of commercial value. Of late, new uses have been found for mica and it can be used to good advantage in small as in large sheets for many purposes, chiefly along the lines of electrical equipment and for spangling wallpaper.
“A party of Ohio men recently visited Durham and made arrangements with the owner of the property, Mr. Hull, to lease the property for a stated rental per year and 10 percent of the profits of the venture. The party is to return to Durham next week and make arrangements for erecting a big stamp mill and putting a number of men at work in mining of the mica.”
To my knowledge, this mining operation was a dream and never materialized. I know of only a small excavation off Mica Hill Road ever worked.
Bluestone Quarry. This quarry, located on Route 68 on land in both Durham and Wallingford, was started by the New Haven Trap Rock Company and continues today as Tilcon, owned by an Irish proprietor in Dublin. We know it was in operation at least since 1939. In the Town Reports of 1929 and 1928, an out-of-town taxpayer is noted as Tidewater Trap Rock Company. No other information was found.
The following comments about drilling for coal are quoted from April 23, 1973, Durham History Committee minutes--discussion of coal drilling attempts.
Members remembered that coal was actually found on the John Steven’s property in a ravine beside the house. The Steven’s place, now occupied by Mr. Morris, is located on the New Haven Road at the head of Stagecoach Road nearest Durham Center. John Steven’s father (Walter Steven’s grandfather) remembered this. There was a small mound of slack several feet high beside the stream where drilling took place. This stream flows north. Also, one Samuel Loper dug up fossils in this same ravine. He had to use a pick and shovel, which was tedious work. Mr. Loper lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Henry Coe, Sr., known as Hillview. Drilling also took place on the J. Roger’s place 1½ miles away. J. Roger’s place later was owned by Albert Eick. The water used in the house came from the hole drilled for coal. Down under the hill the pressure of the water from the overflowing well was enough to reach the second floor of the Eick dwelling. Burt Gastler lived there for a while.
Compiled by Roger B. Newton
August 2004
The next brownstone site information comes from Middlesex County History (Durham) written by Henry G. Newton, “Quarrying and Mining.” Durham has an inexhaustible supply of excellent freestone, which has been quarried in several places. The Quarry District is so-called for the quarry near the district school called Quarry School, located on the south side of Route 68, the Wallingford Road, near Main Street. This is one of three sites supplying freestone for building. The foundation of the North Congregational Church built in 1847, the Town Hall built in 1849, the old Methodist Church built in 1836, and the Episcopal Church built in 1862 are examples of brownstone foundations probably supplied from our quarries. Durham freestone was thought superior to Portland brownstone.
Stone was also taken from a quarry in the Haddam Quarter. This quarry was part of Haddam until 1773, when Haddam Quarter became part of Durham. The location was on the south side of Haddam Quarter Road, No. 229, on property of Oliver B. Coe. Today we believe the hole is filled in with the house of John DeNunzio. This quarry is more than 200 years old. The stone was taken long distances. One of the old buildings at Yale College was built largely from stone taken from this quarry, as were the houses of Benedict Arnold and Pierre Pont Edwards of New Haven. Stone was also taken to Cromwell in considerable quantities. Gravestones were made there and the old stones in graveyards for miles around were made and sold in Durham. A considerable amount of stone was taken from the premises of Samuel G. Camp, the site on Maiden Lane already noted.
We continue with Henry G. Newton’s comments regarding coal mining. A company has recently been formed to look for coal in the south part of Durham. A similar attempt was made a few years ago. A steam engine and diamond drill were employed in the work, which resulted in the finding of an excellent supply of water. See page 3 for more information on coal mining.
There is an excellent supply of Feldspar in the eastern portion of Durham. The only effort to mine it was made while looking for mica. An article from the Middletown Press, dated August 18, 2004, states the following from one hundred years ago.
“In a part of Durham known as Hemlock Ridge, there is a quantity of stone that is known for some years to have been rich in deposits of mica. At intervals, plans have been made for mining the mica for commercial purposes and some work along these lines has been done, but nothing that has proven profitable to those having the matter in charge.
“The chief desire was to get the mica in sheets that would be of commercial value. Of late, new uses have been found for mica and it can be used to good advantage in small as in large sheets for many purposes, chiefly along the lines of electrical equipment and for spangling wallpaper.
“A party of Ohio men recently visited Durham and made arrangements with the owner of the property, Mr. Hull, to lease the property for a stated rental per year and 10 percent of the profits of the venture. The party is to return to Durham next week and make arrangements for erecting a big stamp mill and putting a number of men at work in mining of the mica.”
To my knowledge, this mining operation was a dream and never materialized. I know of only a small excavation off Mica Hill Road ever worked.
Bluestone Quarry. This quarry, located on Route 68 on land in both Durham and Wallingford, was started by the New Haven Trap Rock Company and continues today as Tilcon, owned by an Irish proprietor in Dublin. We know it was in operation at least since 1939. In the Town Reports of 1929 and 1928, an out-of-town taxpayer is noted as Tidewater Trap Rock Company. No other information was found.
The following comments about drilling for coal are quoted from April 23, 1973, Durham History Committee minutes--discussion of coal drilling attempts.
Members remembered that coal was actually found on the John Steven’s property in a ravine beside the house. The Steven’s place, now occupied by Mr. Morris, is located on the New Haven Road at the head of Stagecoach Road nearest Durham Center. John Steven’s father (Walter Steven’s grandfather) remembered this. There was a small mound of slack several feet high beside the stream where drilling took place. This stream flows north. Also, one Samuel Loper dug up fossils in this same ravine. He had to use a pick and shovel, which was tedious work. Mr. Loper lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Henry Coe, Sr., known as Hillview. Drilling also took place on the J. Roger’s place 1½ miles away. J. Roger’s place later was owned by Albert Eick. The water used in the house came from the hole drilled for coal. Down under the hill the pressure of the water from the overflowing well was enough to reach the second floor of the Eick dwelling. Burt Gastler lived there for a while.
Compiled by Roger B. Newton
August 2004