Gloucester in Essex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Cape Ann Granite
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2017
1. Cape Ann Granite Marker
Cape Ann lies on an outcropping composed of 450 million-year-old granite polished by glaciers. This particularly dense stone was prized for building monuments, forts, and piers. Blocks of Cape Ann granite were used to build Gloucester's Dale Avenue post office. In the 1800s, it was shipped as far as Cuba and Europe. The quarry business soon rivaled fishing and its work was considered just as dangerous.
The glaciers also deposited miles of terminal moraine boulders. Clamber over boulders on a hike through Ravenswood, Dogtown, or the 12-ton cut slabs of the Dog Bar breakwater.
Erected by Gloucester Harborwalk. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 42° 36.69′ N, 70° 39.818′ W. Marker is in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in Essex County. Marker can be reached from Rogers Street (Massachusetts Route 127) east of Porter Street when traveling south. Marker is located at the southwest corner of the public parking lot at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 63 Rogers Street, Gloucester MA 01930, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Admiralty Anchor (a few steps from this marker); Captain Howard Blackburn (within shouting
this page online
More about this marker. Marker is a composite plaque mounted on a 4-foot tall granite pedestal.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Gloucester Harborwalk
Also see . . .
1. Gloucester HarborWalk. Website homepage (Submitted on November 22, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. The Cape Ann Quarries.
"The value of the product of the granite quarries of Massachusetts was nearly a million and a half dollars in 1875. There are only three agricultural products which are so valuable to our State. By-the-way, they put ice down in our State census as an agricultural product: that was worth rather over half a million in the same year.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2017
2. Cape Ann Granite Marker (tall view; wharf in background)
3. Granite Quarrying.
The harvesting of granite from quarries dug deep in the earth was big business here on Cape Ann from the 1830s through the early 20th century. Second only to fishing in economic output, for 100 years the granite trade played a pivotal role in the local economy providing jobs for people from throughout New England and around the world, turning profits for some and generating tons and tons of cut granite that was used here on Cape Ann and shipped to ports all along the Atlantic seaboard. (Submitted on March 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Timeline of Cape Ann Granite.
This link presents a detailed timeline of the Cape Ann Granite industry. (Submitted on March 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2017
3. Cape Ann Granite Marker (wide view)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2017
4. Gloucester, Massachusetts Post Office (built with Cape Ann Granite)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 596 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
