Sunday, October 14, 2012

Vanishing Vermont: Wells Lamson Quarry



Things a been a bit of a whirlwind for me the last two weeks. So I apologize for not getting a post up last week. I was teaching at Art-Is-You, in Stamford CT. Which was an amazing adventure of its own. Don't worry, I am going to share photos and insights from that event in the next few days.

But right now, I want to focus on a my day today. On a tip from a friend and fellow artist, I drove down to East Barre (right on the Websterville boarder) to visit the abandoned Wells Lamson Quarry. Barre's history is rich with stories of immigrants workers and industrialization. New England quarries are know for their consistent quality and significant deposits of raw materials. These photos I am sharing with you are just the beginning of the shots that I took today. This is the location of the oldest Granite Quarry in the US. crumble and waste away. I was completely taken in by the beauty of the site. The thing that strikes me the most about this location is how changed the landscape now is because of human interaction. I don't know all the details, but my understanding is that there are organizations out there that are trying to conserve the land and keep alive the historical importance of this place.


Look around and you will see that our natural world has be transformed by industry. Where industry has been, there seems to be significant marks upon the land. In this case, Nature is trying to take back what belongs to her. Today was a very fruitful day and inspiring too. I will continue to edit my photos and post them. Hopefully I will learn a bit more about Barre's granite history and share with you those important nuggets as well.



This place was a space of labor and livelihood for many men for over 100 years. I am sure if the rocks could talk they would have amazing stories to tell. Up on the hill, in the light drizzle, on a Sunday afternoon, there was something magical, yet uncanny there. The birds where chirping, flying in and out of the trees and I could swear in the silences I could hear the faint echoes of men working down in the depths of those pits: Machinery buzzing and clanking away.  







 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. 
Please remember that I retain the rights to all original photography posted. While I am honored and flattered that you
might enjoy the work enough to want to use or repost other places, please do not do so with out permission. All photos copyright L Reynolds 2012
Thanks! Lorraine



2 comments:

Canadian Connection said...

The picture are very interesting a bygone era the looks wonderful as nature takes over. I have been going through an old family photo album that has postcards and pictures of the Quarry taken in its peek of operation. What a change.

Kati said...

My grandfather, father, uncles and many other relatives worked at Wells Lamson Quarry. Our house was located next to the old Blacksmith Shoppe which was next to the quarry. We grew up hearing the sounds of the quarry. The Trucks hauling the granite, the train that ran. We knew all of the guys that worked in the Engine rooms and other areas of the quarry. Cynthia