Berea in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Berea Sandstone Quarries

Photographed By Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

1. Berea Sandstone Quarries Marker

Inscription. For more than ninety years, this area was the heart and soul of Berea's sandstone quarries. In the early 1830s, John Baldwin discovered that the area's sandstone deposits made superb grindstones and building stones. in the 1840s, thriving sandstone quarries developed and became Berea's lifeblood. Searching for the "American Dream," German, Irish, Italian, Hungarian, and Polish immigrants, among others came here to work. The quarries eventually encompassed nearly 250 acres and consumed the fashionable houses of Berea's "South Side" and the buildings of Baldwin University. The Cuyahoga County Court House, Ohio's Capitol, and Canada's parliament buildings are among many structures in North America and Europe constructed of Berea sandstone. Decreasing demand for sandstone and the Great Depression closed the last of Berea's quarries in the mid-1903's.

Erected 1998 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Berea Historical Society, City of Berea, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 16-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Industry & Commerce

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• Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.

Location. 41° 21.925′ N, 81° 51.099′ W. Marker is in Berea, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. Marker is on Berea Commons. The marker is located at the north sidewalk around Coe Lake. This is behind the Berea Commons on the east side of the parking area for the 'Commons', the Berea Library, and the City Police Department. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berea OH 44017, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The “Big Quarry” (here, next to this marker); The Berea Triangle (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Congregational United Church of Christ of Berea (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lyceum Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); Adams Street Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Ogilvy Chapel of St. Thomas Episcopal Church (approx. half a mile away); Baldwin University (approx. 0.6 miles away); Berea District Seven School (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berea.

Regarding Berea Sandstone Quarries. For pictures of buildings built of Berea sandstone, see these other historic

Close-up of map on the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

2. Close-up of map on the marker

markers in town; Lyceum Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); Baldwin University (approx. 0.6 miles away).

For pictures of one of the quarries, see the “Big Quarry” Marker in Berea.

Also see . . . Entry on Berea Sandstone at Ohio History Central. (Submitted on April 20, 2009, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)

Berea Commons seen behind the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

3. Berea Commons seen behind the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 4,823 times since then and 129 times this year. Last updated on February 18, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.