Cape Ann Quarries
more about the granite industry
The two photos above give some perspective on just how deep and huge most granite quarries are, as well as just how precarious the work was during the times these images were taken. In the left image, the men appear dwarfed by the wall of granite they are working.
(click on the image to learn more)
a more complete view of the Gloucester Granite Company
Cape Ann became an important economic area as a result of more than just the fishing industry. In the 1820's granite became a very desirable commodity, and the Cape Ann area was sitting on huge areas of that very rock. By the mid to late 1800's granite from the Cape Ann area was being quarried and shipped to major cities, and small, all along the coast. Having the ability to transport the granite by water made it very easy to provide the material to many markets. A 1910 era booklet about Gloucester described Cape Ann's granite supply as being comparatively inexhaustible. Quarries in Lanesville, Pigeon Cove and Rockport flourished for many years.