Current Events

Current Events & Happenings
Visit our current events & happening web page for all up coming events and special programs of the museum

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum October Opening 2023

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th from 11 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum.

Celebrating International and Quincy Archaeology Day at the Lyons Turning Mill and Quarry Museum October 2023
International Archaeology Day (IAD) is a celebration of archaeology and its contribution to society. Every October the A I D and archaeological organizations around the world present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests. Whether it is a family-friendly archaeology fair, a guided tour of a local archaeological site, a simulated dig, or a presentation from a visiting archaeologist, the interactive, hands-on IAD programs provide a chance to uncover the past and experienced the thrill of discovery. International Archaeology Day is celebrated annually on a Saturday in October, although participating events occur throughout the month of October.
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will participate in International and Quincy Archaeology Month 2023 “DELVING INTO QUINCY’S GRANITE PAST”. The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site, including columns in various stages of production. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. View the Lyons Quarry where granite was quarried and used to produce many of the granite products manufactured at the mill.
The Lyons Turning Mill was built in 1893 by James Lyons to produce round turned products which included monolithic columns, drum columns, balls. urns, balusters and other cylindrical shapes. The mill also produced monuments and products of granite for the building trades of that era. A specialty of the company was the turning and polishing of solid granite balls up to 6 feet in diameter. An example can be seen at the entrance to Quincy City Hall. Columns up to 30 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter could also be turned and polished at the mill. At the turn of the century about 80 men were employed consisting of quarrymen, stonecutters, machine operators and engineers all skilled granite workers.
The open house and tour will take place Saturday, October 21st from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy. Rain date October 28 th and for weather related information call 1-781- 600- 6728
Directions: Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp. Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.

Quarry Museum and Lyons Turning Mill
September Opening
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will open on Saturday, September 2nd and Sunday, September 3rd from 11 to 3. Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. The museum has acquired new artifacts of the granite industry from the collection of the late Dave Hodgdon that are on display at the mill. Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. Visitors can also learn the basic geology of Quincy granite, what is Quincy granite, what made Quincy granite, how did it get to Quincy and what uncovered Quincy granite. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Directions: Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp. Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left. For weather related information on openings or general questions call the museum at 617-472-1322. Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org

Quincy Quarry Museum Opening and Geology Presentation with geologist Les Tyrala August 2023

Quincy Quarry Museum Opening and Geology Presentation August 2023

The Quincy Quarry Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will be open Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th from 11 to 3. The geology presentation will be given by Museum member a registered geologist Les Tyrala who has a broad background in the science of earth geology. The geology presentation will be Saturday, August 5th at noon and on display Saturday will be core borings from 50 cities and towns across the Commonwealth showing the different bedrock of Massachusetts. Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. The Museum will be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy’s granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum tee shirts will be on sale to help support the Museum. Rain date for geology presentation Sunday the 6th. For weather related information on presentation or any other additional questions for the museum call the museum at 617-472-1322

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum
Quarry Museum & Lyons Turning Mill Opening July 2023

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hill Drive, West Quincy will be open on Saturday, July 1st and Sunday, July 2nd from 11 to 3 for self-guided walking tours. Historic pictures and artifacts of Quincy’s granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions. Quarry Museum Tee-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum.
Also
Splitting Granite
A splitting demonstration will be held at the historic Lyons Turning Mill and Quarry Museum on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy Saturday, July 1st at 12 pm. The demonstration will include a short presentation on the splitting of stone and a hands-on splitting of granite by the attendees.

Granite Geology and Stone Splitting at the Lyons Turning Mill
June 17th 2023
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum is having a geology of Quincy granite presentation and a granite splitting demonstration. The geology and splitting demonstration will be held at the historic Lyons Turning Mill and the Quarry Museum on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy Saturday, June 17th at 2:00 pm. The geology presentation will be given by museum member Les Tyrala a registered geologist who has a broad background in the science of earth geology. Les will discuss, what is Quincy granite, what made Quincy granite, where did Quincy granite come from, how Quincy granite got here and what uncovered Quincy granite along with many other interesting facts about the geology of Quincy granite. After the attendees learn about the geology of Quincy granite there will be a demonstration on the splitting of granite. The demonstration will include a short presentation on the splitting of stone and a hands-on splitting of granite by the attendees. Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. The museum has acquired new artifacts of the granite industry from the collection of the late Dave Hodgdon that are on display at the mill. The museum has also added several new displays on the walking tour around the mill. Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Safety equipment will be supplied by the museum. Directions: Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp. Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For weather related information on presentation or any other additional questions call the museum at 617-472-1322

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum

Quarry Museum & Lyons Turning Mill Opening June 2023

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hill Drive, West Quincy will be open on Saturday, June 3 rd and Sunday, June 4 th from 11 to 3 for self-guided walking tours. Historic pictures and artifacts of Quincy’s granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions. Quarry Museum Tee-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Come visit the museum and Turning Mill and view the new displays.

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum

Quarry Museum & Lyons Turning Mill Opening May 2023

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hill Drive, West Quincy will be open on Saturday, May 6 th and Sunday, May 7 th from 11 to 3 for self-guided walking tours. Historic pictures and artifacts of Quincy’s granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions. Quarry Museum Tee-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum.

Museum contact information E-mail: quincyquarrymuseum@gmail.com. Telephone: 617-472-1322. Mailing address: Quincy Quarry Museum, P.O. Box 690724, Quincy, MA 02269.

Directions: From Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy, proceed under expressway on Willard Street, stay to right to stop sign, U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp. Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and take right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.

Celebrating Archaeology Month at the Lyons Turning Mill 2022

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will participate in International, Massachusetts and Quincy Archaeology Month 2022 “DELVING INTO QUINCY”S GRANITE PAST”. The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site, including columns in various stages of production. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. View the Lyons Quarry where granite was quarried and used to produce many of the granite products manufactured at the mill.
The Lyons Turning Mill was built in 1893 by James Lyons to produce round turned products which included monolithic columns, drum columns, balls. urns, balusters and other cylindrical shapes. The mill also produced monuments and products of granite for the building trades of that era. A specialty of the company was the turning and polishing of solid granite balls up to 6 feet in diameter. An example can be seen at the entrance to Quincy City Hall. Columns up to 30 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter could also be turned and polished at the mill. At the turn of the century about 80 men were employed consisting of quarrymen, stonecutters, machine operators and engineers all skilled granite workers.
The open house and tour will take place Saturday, October 15th from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy.
Directions: Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp. Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum 2022 Schedule

October
Museum Open
October 1 st 11 to 3
October 2 nd 11 to 3
October Archaeology Month
Museum Open 15th 11 to 3

November
Museum Open
November 5 th 11 to 3
November 6 th 11 to 3

Private tours are available upon request, Call museum and leave name and contact number Museum number 617-472 -1322

Check Museum web site quincyquarrymuseum.org
for Geology, Stone Splitting, Stone Finishing and other activities when dates and times are determined.
Please note all walks and tours are over rocky terrain. Any questions call the Museum at 617-472-1322.

Directions
At the intersection of Willard and Copeland St., West Quincy, at Curry Hardware proceed under the expressway and stay to the right to stop sign and blinking red light. Use caution crossing expressway ramp to Ricciuti Drive. UPS store on right. Proceed up Ricciuti Drive to the end and turn right onto Quarry Hills Drive. Museum one hundred yards on the left.

All events and museum are free.
Donations are appreciate

Boston Architectural College Visit

The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum welcomed students from Boston Architectural College to the Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill. Their course for this semester involves studying stone construction along with using stone in landscape design. Museum historian Tom Bonomi conducted a tour of the Lyons Turning Mill along with the history of Quincy's granite industry. A demonstration of stone finishing and tools used in the finishing of dimensional building stone was explained to the students. The students also split granite blocks using the feather and wedge method and hammering to split granite blocks. Part of their course this semester is for each student to develop a landscape plan for the Turning Mill grounds. This will include placing historic machinery around the grounds of the Turning Mill and designing walking pathways. The museum will receive copies of the 10 to 12 landscape plans that the students generate for their assignment using the Turning Mill as the center of the design proposal. This will be of great value to the museum as we move forward with establishing an outdoor walking museum of Quincy's past granite industry.

QATV Interview With Al Bina Museum President 9/12/ 2022
QATV's Joe Catalano on AM Quincy interviews museum president Al Bina on what's happing at the museum. To see interview go to link qatv.org/#!/widget/52/episode/218705

The Association For Gravestone Studies
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum hosted a visit to the Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill by 52 members of The Association of Gravestone Studies. The Association had their 2022 conference and annual meeting at Endicott College, Beverly Mass. The Association For Gravestone Studies (AGS) was founded in 1977 for the purpose of furthering the study and preservation of gravestone. AGS is an international organization with an interest in grave markers of all periods and styles. Through its publications, conferences, workshops and exhibits, AGS promotes the study of gravestones from historic and artistic perspectives, expand public awareness of the significance of historic grave markers, and encourage individuals and groups to record and preserve gravestones. Al Bina and museum historian Tom Bonomi gave the group a history of the granite industry in Quincy along with demonstrations of stone splitting with the feather and wedge method and stone finishing and polishing techniques all related to fabricating gravestones. The splitting of granite with the feather wedges by the group members was one of their highlights. The group also toured the Lyons Turning Mill with historic pictures of the mill when in operation in 1893.

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum October 2022

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum October Openings

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will be open in October, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd also will be open for Archaeology Month on the 15th. Come visit the Museum and walk around the Turning Mill. View the interpretive information at the many sites around the mill. The museum also has a new display model of a stiff leg derrick with all the riggings that was used in the granite industry. New in the Lyons Turning Mill visitors can view the stud location that held the massive turning lathes capable of turning monolithic granite columns 30 feet long and 5 foot in diameter. Members will be on hand for tours of both and to answer any questions you may have of Quincy’s past granite industry. T-shirts will be available for sale to help support the museum.

Quarry Museum Winter Walk 2022
Winter Walk and Museum Opening

On Saturday, February 19th the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will be holding a winter walk which will include the Granite Railway, Inclined Plane Railway, Lyons Turning Mill, Granite Railway Quarry and the museum will be open for viewing. The City of Quincy, known as the Granite City, had over 50 granite quarries operating in its heyday. Quincy granite was greatly valued, providing stone for some of the most impressive granite buildings, monuments, sculptures and fortifications across the nation. The Granite Railway Quarry and Swingles Quarry were two of the largest suppliers of granite spanning many years of operation. The 2 mile walk will include turn-of-the-century photos of the site locations along the walk. The quarry walk will be over extremely rocky terrain and be subject to weather and terrain conditions. Participation in the walk is limited. Call the museum and leave your name and a contact number to be reached for details of the walk. For further information call the Museum at 617-472-1322

Quarry Museum Opening March 2022
Quarry Museum Opening

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will be opened on

Saturday, March 5th and Sunday, March 6th from 11 to 3. See complete schedule for 2022 below picture.

Also included will be a self-guided walk around at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. A new museum display on the granite railway will include models of the rail bed construction and the railway car on the tracks at the crossing of the Boston to Plymouth Highway at East Milton. Both the rail bed and railcar were designed by Gridley Bryant in 1825. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help the museum through this period. November is the last scheduled opening this year of the Museum. If weather permits December is a possibility so watch our web site quincyquarrymuseum.org. We will also try to accommodate any request for a visit to the Museum. If rain on either day both museum opening and walk around mill will be postponed. Any questions call the museum at 617-472-1322.

The Legend Of The Quincy Quarries
Interesting youtube.com story of the Quincy quarries by Sean Curran link
https://www.facebook.com/groups/172797548871/permalink/10159004834138872/

Quarry Museum Opening September 2020
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th from 10 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. During the walk around the mill and the museum, visitors must adhere to all of the corona 19 guide lines including full face mask, social distancing and following directional arrows. All guidelines will be posted. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help the museum through this period. If rain on either day both museum opening and walk around mill will be postponed for a later date. Any questions call the museum at 617-472-1322.

Stone Yard At The Museum
The Museum’s stone yard has added several newly acquired artifacts for the demonstration of the working of stone. The newly acquired artifacts include a tripod frame with a 1 ton chain fall, sawhorses, banker frames, a skid platform with pipe rollers for moving granite and a rebuilt four-wheel cart. All artifacts came from the Carrigg stone shed that sadly is scheduled for demolition.

Quincy Quarries Walk Pictures 2019

Quarry walk at the Granite Railway Company quarry with Maggie Brown, DCR,Tom Bonomi, Quarry Museum, and Les Tyrala, registered geologist. Quarry walkers were invited to view the Quarry Museum at the Lyons Turning Mill site and for a stone splitting demonstration by Al Bina, Quarry Museum.

Quincy Quarries Walk 2019:
History Happened Here
Saturday, November 23
10 am- noon
Quincy is known as the Granite City for its rich quarry history.
Join local experts from the DCR, the Quincy Quarry Workers Museum and a registered geologist to learn about the amazing geology and industrial history of the Quincy Quarries. We’ll share highlights and history of this unique site through a short walking tour, historical photo comparisons and a stone cutting demonstration. 2 hours.
Meet at the DCR Quincy Quarries Historic Site parking lot on Ricciuti Drive in Quincy. From Rt. 93, exit 8, follow signs toward Quarry Hills. Park at the lot
on the right at the crest of the first hill.
Things to know before you go

Programs are FREE
Wear sturdy footgear and dress in layers for maximum comfort
Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs
For weather updates and cancellations news,

please call the reservation headquarters at 617-698-1802, ext. 4

Reasonable accommodations available upon request, with advance notice. Email Maggi.Brown@state.ma.us

###

Mt. Wollaston Cemetery Tour October 2019 The Park Department's Environmental Treasures Program and the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum invite the public to a free tour on Saturday, October 26 at 2 p.m. of Mt. Wollaston Cemetery. Led by Al Bina, Tom Bonomi and Patti Williams, the tour will focus on the skill and artistry of the granite workers who created the beautiful monuments there. Many of the carving and polishing tools will be on display. With the assistance of Joe Newton, participants will also honor the legacy of Tom Galvin who led many tours of the cemetery and did so much else for the City. Participants will receive a copy of Tom's self-guided walking tour to help them explore the Cemetery on their own at a later date. With its numerous maple trees, the Cemetery will provide perhaps the best fall foliage in Quincy. The tour will begin at the main entrance to the Cemetery on Greenleaf Street off Southern Artery. For more information and rain date rescheduling, please call 617/472-0799.

Quarry Museum and Archaeology Month October 2019
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will be participating in Massachusetts Archaeology Month with tours of the historic Lyons Turning Mill remains and artifacts scattered around the mill site. The Lyons Mill site is the only remaining remnant of Quincy’s rich granite history. Photos and interpretive information and artifacts will be on display
The Quarry Museum will be open for viewing. The Museum takes the visitor on a walk through the granite history from the geology of Quincy’s granite and the first quarriers in Quincy, the Native Americans, to the end of the granite industry in Quincy.
The Quarry Museum's activities at the Lyons Turning Mill will be on Saturday, October 19th, 10 A.M. to 3 PM. and a rain date of Sunday, October 20th. The Lyons Turning Mill is located on Quarry Hills Drive off of Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy. Directions from Curry’s Hardware, Copeland Street, proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign. Proceed across exit 8 ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
For information call the museum at 617-472-1322 or visit the museum's web site at www.quincyquarrymuseum.org

Bunker Hill Quarry Exploration & Granite Railway Walk 2019
The Bunker Hill Monument which stands 221 feet tall in Charlestown to commemorate one of the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775, had its humble beginnings in the rocky hills of the Blue Hills Reservation. Solomon Willard, the architect and superintendent, roamed the countryside looking for suitable stone for the monument and found it in West Quincy. Join members of the Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum and a DCR Park Interpreter as we explore Bunker Hill Quarry, and learn about the amazing engineering feats behind the building of the Bunker Hill Monument and the Granite Railway, first commercial railroad in America that transported granite from the quarries of West Quincy to the Neponset River for shipment to Charlstown. Must be able to walk 1 mile on moderately rocky, uneven terrain. Join the walk on Saturday, June 15th at 10am

Meet at the Quincy Quarries parking lot at 10 am located on Ricciuti Drive in West Quincy. Look for the large paved parking lot on the right at the top the first hill.

Were Is Fort Rock (and other historical mysteries) Walk
Quincy's 300th Anniversary in 1925
Sally Owen a Quarry Museum member and director of the Quincy Park Departments Environmental Treasures Program led a walking tour titled Where is Fort Rock (and other historical mysteries)? Sally has organized and led countless historical and environmental group walks throughout the city of Quincy with great enthusiasm on each walk. This walk was in preparation for the 400th anniversary of Quincy's settlement in 2025. The walk looked back on how Quincy celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1925. The walk consisted of part of the route of the 1925 walk. The first stop on the walk was the South Commons quarries on the Braintree, Quincy line at the intersection of E. Howard St. and Quincy Avenue. Museum members. Al Bina and Tom Bonomi of the Quarry Museum gave a presentation on the history of the South Commons and how the stones were quarried split and hammered for the Kings Chapel in Boston. The walk then continue along E. Howard St. to the shipyard vicinity were Sally and Rob Ross shared stories of ship building and the history of the Fore River Shipyard. The walk ended in the parking lot of the Quincy Mental Health Center that is believed to have been the location of Fort Rock, which overlooks the Fore River. Sally Owens said in 1925 a worker carved the points of the compass on top of the rock. The walk was a great success with over 60 in attendance thanks to the planning and research by Sally, Patty Williams and Rob Ross.

Museum President Al Bina and Museum Historian Tom Bonomi opening the walk at the South Commons Quarry location

Granite Railway Display
New Window Display at the Granite Trust Building
The Quarry Museum has a new window display at the Old Granite Trust Building 1400 Hancock Street in Quincy Center. The display tells the story of the Granite Railway the first commercial incorporated railroad in America. On display are some of the artifacts that archaeologist Richard Muzzrole unearthed at the site of the terminus of the railroad at the Bunker Hill Quarry in West Quincy. The centerpiece of the display is a large picture of the terminus of the railway by Patriot Ledger artist Draper Hill based on the archaeological work done by Richard Muzzrole in the 60’s. An 1833 map of the entire route of the railway showing the location of the Bunker Hill Quarry, Inclined Plane Railway, superintendent’s house, boarding house for workmen, sheds for hammering stone, blacksmiths’ shop, Boston Plymouth Road, Squantum Road and Gullivers Creek are all located on the map. On display also are historical pictures and interpretive information on the railroad including a model by museum historian, Tom Bonomi, showing a cutaway of the construction of the railway and roadbed as designed by Gridley Bryant in 1826. Also on display is a model of a section of the rail after the wooden rails were converted to a granite rail with strap iron attached to the granite to support the continuous heavy loads that it was carrying.
Click on photo to enlarge

Quincy Environmental Treasures Program
WHERE IS FORT ROCK (and other historical mysteries)?

Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m.
(Rain date: March 31, 2 p.m.)

In preparation for the 400th anniversary of Quincy's settlement in 2025, we will look back on how Quincy celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1925. We will walk part of the tour route in the shipyard area described in the Historical Guide prepared for the celebration to see what was considered important back then and how things have changed in the last 100 years. The tour will include a description of how Quincy granite was quarried to build King's Chapel. Co-sponsored by the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum. Meet at the parking lot at the intersection of W. Howard St. and Quincy Ave. (next to Hajjars Big and Tall).
For more information and rain date rescheduling of the tours, please call 617/472-0799.

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum
February Meeting 2019

Les Tyrala, a museum member and registered geologist, will give a presentation on quarrying in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in the UK. Les has gathered together historic images, plus photos ranging from undisturbed granitic outcrops to the disused quarry pits to the final transportation to market of stone.

   Public Welcome

                  When:      Wed., February, 20th at 7 p.m.
                 Where:     Quincy Historical Society
  8 Adams Street
Quincy Center

New West Window Display at the Granite Trust Building
Native American Window Display Quincy Center

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum has establish a new window display at the Old Granite Trust Building 1400 Hancock Street , Quincy Center. The display is the story of the Native Americans, the first to quarry stone in the Blue Hills of Quincy and Milton. The display features pictures drawings and interpreted information of Native Americans quarrying stone. Samples of the three types of stone that were quarried by Native Americans from outcroppings in the Blue Hills with interpretative geological information on each type is on display. Also on display are Native American artifacts from the collection of the Quincy Historical Society. Artifacts on display include axes, clubs, projectiles, pestles and grinding stones all found around Quincy and vicinity.

Granite Railway Quarry Geology Walk November 2018
On Saturday, November 17th the Quarry Museum took part in a geology walk at the Granite Railway Quarry sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation with head ranger Maggi Brown, registered geologist Les Tyrala , museum historian Tom Bonomi and museum president Al Bina. Geologist Les Tyrala explained the geology of the quarry site and Quincy granite, Tom Bonomi and Al Bina filled in the history of the Granite Railway Quarry along with pictures.

Archaeology Day 2018 at the Lyons Turning Mill
October Archaeology Month
The Quarry Museum opened the Lyons Turning Mill site and the Mini Museum for tours. Interpretive information and pictures of the mill when it was in operation in 1894 were also on display. Visitors toured the mill throughout the day which attracted over 50 visitors. Tours were led by museum historian Tom Bonomi, and was assisted by museum member James Andrews.

October 2018 Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum Open Meeting
The Quarry Museum held its October meeting at the Quincy Historical Society featuring a PowerPoint presentation by Al Bina museum president on Jonathan S. Swingle known as the “Extra Dark Man” who quarried the extra dark Quincy granite. One of the highlights of the presentations was a 3' x 4' portrait of Jonathan S. Swingle in oils by artist J. L. Findley painted in 1927 and donated to the museum by his great granddaughter who was present at the meeting along family members. Also museum member Les Tyrala a geologist gave a brief explanation of Swingle's extra dark granite.

October 2018 Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum Open Meeting

Please join us for a power point presentation on Jonathan S. Swingle “The Extra Dark Man” who was Quincy’s leading granite quarry owner and whose quarry produced the extra dark Quincy granite.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Quincy Historical Society
8 Adams Street
Quincy Center
For more information call 617-472-1322
www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
quincyquarrymuseum@verizon.net

History Camp Quarry Walk August 2018
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum held a quarry walk for History Camp Boston on Saturday, August 18 with museum historian Tom Bonomi. Boston History Camp was established in 2015 and brings people of all ages and all walks of life, regardless of profession or degree of education, who are interested in history and want to learn more. The walking tour given by the Museum consisted of a tour with interpretive photos and information on the sites covered which included the Granite Railway Company quarry, Inclined Plane Railway, built by Gridley Bryant in 1826, Lyons Turning Mill and the Quarry Museum's Mini Museum which is located at the Turning Mill site.

Stone Staging Area
The Quarry Museum has established a stone staging area at the Mini Museum where demonstrations of stone splitting, stone finishing and other stone related operations can be performed. The area will also be used for geology presentations.

Presidential Wreath - Laying Ceremony
Wednesday, June 11, 2018
The museum took part in the 51 st anniversary of the presidential wreath-laying tradition at the Church of the Presidents also known as the "Stone Temple," Quincy Center. Following the ceremony the public was invited to tour the Adams' Crypt where Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives are interred. The public was invited to visit the parish hall for a special exhibit on Quincy granite that the church was built of and the celebration also of the church's 190th birthday. The special exhibit on Quincy granite was created by the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum. The public was also invited to have a slice of presidential birthday cake courtesy of Konditor Meister Bakery, Braintree.

Bunker Hill & Granite Railway Walk 2018
Saturday June 6th

Cleaner Greener Day Quincy 2018
Thanks to museum members for a successful Cleaner Greener Day on Saturday May 5th at the Inclined Plane Railway. The railway was cleaned up and mulched to get it ready for the many visitors to the site. The Inclined Plane Railway was used to transport granite down from Pine Hill Ledge which later became the Granite Railway Company to the Granite Railway the first commercial railroad in America to transport goods.

Exploring Granite and Geminid Meteor Shower

On the night of December 13th Sally Owen a museum member and Quincy Park Department organizer led a tour of the Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Mini Museum followed by a short trip to a very dark parking lot of the soccer fields off of Ricciuti Drive to look for the Geminid meteor shower. The Geminids are considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. As can be seen in the photo below it was a very cold night indicated by the young lady's coat.

Quincy Quarry Museum's Mini Museum

Granite Railway Quarry Walk
On Saturday, November 4, the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the DCR, Department of Conservation and Recreation held a joint quarry walk at the Granite Railway Company quarry, Quincy. The walking tour was led by museum historian Tom Bonomi and Maggie Brown DCR interpretive ranger. Both Tom and Maggie gave interpretive information about the quarry along the walk and historic photos of the sites along the walk were displayed. At the end of the walk people were invited to tour the Mini Museum at the Lyons Turning Mill site.

Bunker Hill Quarry Walk 2017
On Saturday, June 17th, Bunker Hill Day in Massachusetts the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the DCR, Department of Conservation and Recreation held a quarry walk that included the Granite Railway. Tom Bonomi museum historian and Maggie Brown DCR Interpretive Ranger led a walk providing interpretive information on the quarry, the Bunker Hill Monument and the Granite Railway.

May Meeting of the Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum at the Quincy Historical Society 2017

Museum president Al Bina and museum historian Tom Bonomi gave a power point presentation on Quincy's archaeologist Richrd (Dick) Muzzrole. The presentation covered the work of Dick Muzzrole at the John Winthrop Jr. Iron Blast Furnace, Germantown Glassworks and his passion, the Granite Railway all located in Quincy.

March Meeting 2017
Museum member Tom Bonomi gave a power point presentation titled "Virtual Walking Tour of the Granite Rail quarry. The meeting was well attended and also attending was Maggie Brown, Head Ranger Blue Hills Div. who's jurisdiction covers the Granite Rail quarry and Les Tyrala a register geologist both sharing information on the quarry.

Quincy Quarry Museum February Meeting 2017

Ed Gordon, Director of Museum Programs at the historic Old Schwamb Mill, giving his presentation on the mill which included a video presentation on the Mill's history and operation in the construction of circular and elliptical frames. The Mill operated in the same era as the Lyons Turning Mill employing immigrants similar to the operation at the Lyons Mill.

Quarry Museum December Meeting Celebrating Quincy Quarries
Part 1 Swingle Quarry History
The Quarry Museum's December meeting featured a power point presentation given by Joseph Greene who has done extensive research on the Swingle history. The presentation included Jonathan S. Swingle's family history from the Blue Rock Township of his youth to a successful quarry owner and busuiness man in Quincy at the turn of the 18th centery.

Quincy Park Department Environmental Treasures Program and Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum
Part 2 Movies Filmed At The Quarries
The group toured the quarry sites with Sally Owen of the Environmental Treasures Program. Tom Bonomi of the Quarry Museum led the group to sites in the quarry area where 4 films were filmed and spoke of the history of the quarry areas.

Thomas Crane Public Library & Quincy Park Department Environmental Treasures Program & Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum
Part 3 Movies At The Library
The four movies that were filmed at the quarries were "Gone Baby Gone," "The Invention Of Lying," "The Cardinal" and "Quarry" a 16 minute documentary shown for the first time in Quincy.
Richard Rogers at the time was a student at Harvard and later became a professorat Harvard filmed a "slice of life" art film showing kids diving into the Granite Rail quarry,hanging out, and talking about Vietnam in 1967.

June Geology & Stone Splitting 2017
Individuals trying their hand splitting Quincy granite using the feather and wedge method.

Monolithic Column Donation
The Quarry Museum received a donation of two monolithic granite columns quarried and turned in Quincy that adorned the entrance to the old Quincy District Court House built in 1907 and demolished in 1973 to make way for President Place. The court house was built in classical revival style a riff on Greek architecture typical of American courthouses, with wide steps leading up to two simple columns under a triangular pediment. The columns are 19' 6" in length and 30" in diameter and weigh approximately 8.15 tons. The columns were in the woods off Ricciuti Drive for thirty years and now the museum has the columns at the Lyons Turning Mill site. The columns were donated by the current owners of the property, Universal Properties of Newton, Stu Levy, Sy Marcus and thanks to Leo Martin, Jr. of Martin Realty of Quincy for his help in acquiring the columns. Thanks also to Sean Farrell of Sean Farrell Excavating of Quincy for donating personnel and heavy equipment for the excavation and transportation of the columns to the turning mill site.

Geology and Stone Splitting
The Museum held a geology and splitting of Quincy granite at the Lyons Quarry and Turning Mill site. Museum member geologist Les Tyrala gave a very informative presentation on the geology of Quincy granite. The granite splitting activity led by museum members Al Bina and Tom Bonomi was a great success and enjoyed by all.

Lyons Turning Mill Tour
The Quarry Museum took part in the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Discover Quincy 50 Days of Freedom opening the Lyons Turning Mill. The museum conducted tours of the mill and grounds and displayed photos of the mill when it was in operation in 1894. Also on display were stone cutting tools of that era. Tom Bonomi, museum member, giving an introduction of the mill and tools used at the mill.

Stabilization work at the Lyons Turning Mill

First phase capping o the fwalls is in progress. Work on the Lyons Turning Mill is being funded by the Quincy Community Preservation Committee and Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum. The work is being done
by Folan Waterproofing and Construction Co. of So. Easton, MA. Progress will beupdated on our web site.

Swingle's Bridge Plaque

Swingle's Bridge Plaque

Quarry Museum received the plaque from the bridge that spanned a portion of Swingle's Quarry that was constructed in 1904.

The plaque was donated by Virginia and Berine Sweeney in memory of Berine's father Bernard Sweeney and William Yuscavitch.

Top photo
L to R Al Bina accepting plaque, Berine Sweeney his wife Virginia, Silvia Yuscavitch and Bill Yuscavitch.

Bottom photo
Historical photo from the Thomas Crane Library's Parker Collection showing a quarry worker standing on the bridge next to the
plaque.

Current Events & Happenings​Visit our current events & happening web page for all up coming events and special programs of the museum​

Quincy Quarries Walk Pictures 2019

Stabilization work at the Lyons Turning Mill

Swingle's Bridge Plaque

Current Events & Happenings
Visit our current events & happening web page for all up coming events and special programs of the museum