DUMMERSTON-The Dummerston Historical Society (DHS) will present a program at its museum in Dummerston Center on Sunday, Jan. 18, about the granite quarries of Black Mountain in West Dummerston that operated from 1875 until 1935.
This presentation will explore the history of granite quarrying, from early hand tools and stone-splitting techniques to the introduction of steam and compressed air. It highlights the skilled workers, their daily labor and working conditions, and the methods used to transport massive stone blocks by rail and wagon.
The talk concludes with an overview of the Black Mountain granite's many finished uses and their crucial role in Dummerston's economy. The audience will be encouraged to contribute their own memories and experiences of the quarry operations during a question-and-answer session.
The presentation is part of the DHS annual meeting.
The presenter, George Kohout, has wandered the abandoned quarries of Black Mountain since 1968. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Arizona State University.
Doors open at 1 p.m. The presentation will follow a brief business meeting at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call Gail at 802-490-0728.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.