Settlement Quarry granite is 360 million years old. That's a long story, needless to say.... I'll hop right to 1900 when the Quarry opened. According to a 1908 publication succinctly titled Stone, "...the plant consisted of nine dericks, three engines, one traveling crane, one locomotive, two compressors, sixteen steam or pneumatic drills...." Well, you get the picture. Granite was in demand then and this quarry's stone still stands the test of time supporting the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges, protecting the New York County Courthouse, Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Kennedy Memorial in Arlington Cemetery.
Today, the clank, roar and screech of industry is replaced by a chorus of bird song. Spectacularly so, if you visit early in the morning during the spring warbler migration, as these folks did a few weeks ago. Island Heritage Trust now owns and cares for this historic property. It is open to the public whether you have two legs or four, wings or wigglabilty. Please visit and let us know who you met there at our "wildlife sightings" page on www.islandheritagetrust.org.
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