Fitchburg in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Rollstone Boulder

Photographed By Darren Brosseau, April 20, 2019

1. Rollstone Boulder Marker

Inscription. This boulder carried by the last glacier from Mount Monadnock New Hampshire to the summit of the hill whose name commemorates it, was for centuries a land mark to Indian and settler. Threatened with destruction by quarrying operations, it was saved by popular subscription, and reassembled here 1929-1930.
Weight 110 tons.
Porphyritic Granite.

Erected 1937 by Fitchburg Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Natural Resources.

Location. 42° 35.199′ N, 71° 48.358′ W. Marker is in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Road 31) and Mechanic Street (State Route 31), in the median on Main Street. It is on the traffic island across from 938 Main St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 938 Main St, Fitchburg MA 01420, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Vietnam/Korea War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War l Memorial (about 300 feet away); Calvin Coolidge (about 400 feet away); World War ll Memorial (about 400 feet away); In memory of Arthur M Longsjo Jr (about 600 feet away); Fitchburg Civil War Memorial

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); The Store of Ephraim Kimball (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Settler of Fitchburg (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fitchburg.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. “In 1929 the two quarries on Rollstone Hill began removing the final section of the hill between them where the Rollstone boulder was perched. At the urging of state representative Louis N. M. Des Chenes, the mayor of Fitchburg, Joseph N. Carriere, forced the quarries to halt operations so the boulder could be removed. The plans for moving the boulder were fairly simple as all that seemed to be holding the stone together was the iron band encircling it. The plan was to remove this band and the subsequent pieces the boulder crumbled into were to be moved to a small triangular traffic island in downtown Fitchburg to be reassembled. Lines and numbers were painted on the Rollstone Boulder and it was meticulously photographed and drawn so that it could be reassembled exactly the same as it was before the move. After all this planning and documentation, when the iron band was removed the boulder did not fall apart. It took multiple blasts with black powder

Rollstone Boulder and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Brosseau

2. Rollstone Boulder and Marker

to even crack the stone. After it was broken into smaller pieces, they were all transported to its new home.” (Submitted on April 21, 2019.)

Rollstone Boulder at Its Original Location image. Click for full size.

Postcard image via Wikipedia, 1909

3. Rollstone Boulder at Its Original Location

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2019, by Darren Brosseau of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 411 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2019, by Darren Brosseau of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. 3. submitted on April 21, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.