Granite in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Granite National Historic District
Photographed By Kenneth Derrenbacher
1. Granite National Historic District Marker
Inscription.
Granite National Historic District. . Some of the finest granite on the North American continent was quarried in this area for over a century. The village of Granite was first named Waltersville after the Walters/Blunt family who founded the local quarrying industry, circa 1820. The two largest quarries were Waltersville and Fox Rock. These and smaller quarries counted hundreds of stonecutters among their employees. One of the most important uses was for America’s first railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio. This construction included the famous Thomas Viaduct, a vital link between Baltimore and Washington. The quality of this stone led to its use in such buildings as the Library of Congress, inner walls of the Washington Monument, Old patent Office and the Baltimore Custom House. Local granite was the choice for foundations, gateposts, garden walls, cemetery monuments, churches and schools. Many homes, still seen nearby, housed the hardy workmen and their families forming a community proudly named for its most famous natural resource, granite. Granite was placed on the National register of Historic Places in 1994. Erected by the Granite Historical Society-1996
Some of the finest granite on the North American continent was quarried in this area for over a century. The village of Granite was first named Waltersville after the Walters/Blunt family who founded the local quarrying industry, circa 1820. The two largest quarries were Waltersville and Fox Rock. These and smaller quarries counted hundreds of stonecutters among their employees. One of the most important uses was for America’s first railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio. This construction included the famous Thomas Viaduct, a vital link between Baltimore and Washington. The quality of this stone led to its use in such buildings as the Library of Congress, inner walls of the Washington Monument, Old patent Office and the Baltimore Custom House. Local granite was the choice for foundations, gateposts, garden walls, cemetery monuments, churches and schools. Many homes, still seen nearby, housed the hardy workmen and their families forming a community proudly named for its most famous natural resource, granite.
Granite was placed on the National register of Historic Places in 1994.
Erected by the Granite Historical Society-1996
Erected 1996 by Granite Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.
Location.
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39° 20.615′ N, 76° 50.883′ W. Marker is in Granite, Maryland, in Baltimore County. Marker is at the intersection of Old Court Road (Maryland Route 125) and Melrose Avenue on Old Court Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodstock MD 21163, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2020. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 9, 2020, by Kenneth Derrenbacher of Dayton, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
