A LITTLE BIT OF A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL HISTORY – GASP!!LOCAL HISTORY – GASP!!

How did the quarries get started?How did the quarries get started? When was Berea Sandstone mined?When was Berea Sandstone mined? What are the uses for Berea What are the uses for Berea

Sandstone?Sandstone? When did the quarries shut down?When did the quarries shut down? What are the uses of the Bedford What are the uses of the Bedford

Shale which is found in Berea as well?Shale which is found in Berea as well?

The Beginning…The Beginning…The quarrying industry started in The quarrying industry started in 1842 shortly after John Baldwin 1842 shortly after John Baldwin prayed in a hemlock grove for prayed in a hemlock grove for

divine guidance divine guidance to lead him out of the dilemma he to lead him out of the dilemma he faced over the loss of his fortune faced over the loss of his fortune

when when he discovered that the sandstone he discovered that the sandstone beneath his 200 acres could put a beneath his 200 acres could put a

keen keen edge on his pocket knife.edge on his pocket knife.

The birth of a community…The birth of a community…

From this spark of inspiration an industry From this spark of inspiration an industry was born and a village and educational was born and a village and educational institution (B-W) was developed. German, institution (B-W) was developed. German,

Irish, Italian, Hungarian, and Polish Irish, Italian, Hungarian, and Polish immigrants, among others, came here to immigrants, among others, came here to

work.work.

Berea SandstoneBerea Sandstone

In the next 75 years, Baldwin’s farm and nearby In the next 75 years, Baldwin’s farm and nearby land underwent a vast change as thousands of land underwent a vast change as thousands of train loads of Berea Sandstone were shipped train loads of Berea Sandstone were shipped away to make Berea the sandstone capitol of the away to make Berea the sandstone capitol of the world.world.

Berea 1886Berea 1886

Uses of Berea SandstoneUses of Berea Sandstone

High Grade – GrindstonesHigh Grade – Grindstones

Medium Grade – Building StonesMedium Grade – Building Stones

Lower Grade – Pavers & SidewalksLower Grade – Pavers & Sidewalks

Berea 1886Berea 1886

Buildings made of Berea Buildings made of Berea SandstoneSandstone

Soldiers and Sailors Monument in ClevelandSoldiers and Sailors Monument in Cleveland

The Station Restaurant on Depot Street in BereaThe Station Restaurant on Depot Street in Berea

Ingham Courthouse Tower in Michigan Ingham Courthouse Tower in Michigan

Canadian Parliament in OntarioCanadian Parliament in Ontario

Auglaize County Courthouse in Wapakoneta, OhioAuglaize County Courthouse in Wapakoneta, Ohio

St. Bernard’s Church, Peninsula, OhioSt. Bernard’s Church, Peninsula, Ohio

The Cuyahoga, County Courthouse, Ohio’s Capitol, Mahler The Cuyahoga, County Courthouse, Ohio’s Capitol, Mahler Museum, B-W buildings and many government offices and Museum, B-W buildings and many government offices and churches in Europechurches in Europe

Closing of the Berea Closing of the Berea QuarriesQuarries

Decreasing demand for Sandstone and Decreasing demand for Sandstone and the Depression caused the close of the Depression caused the close of Berea’s quarries in the 1930’s.Berea’s quarries in the 1930’s.

Other Berea Sandstone Other Berea Sandstone Quarries in Ohio – Amherst Quarries in Ohio – Amherst

19161916

Amherst 1924Amherst 1924

What were the uses for Berea What were the uses for Berea Sandstone????Sandstone????

High Grade????High Grade????– SiOSiO2 2 grains uniform in size, fine, very grains uniform in size, fine, very

smooth…smooth…

Medium Grade????Medium Grade????– SiOSiO2 2 grains not as uniform in size, fine to grains not as uniform in size, fine to

medium in texturemedium in texture

Low Grade????Low Grade????– SiOSiO2 2 grains vary widely in size, medium grains vary widely in size, medium

to coarse texture, rougherto coarse texture, rougher

BTW: Uses for Bedford BTW: Uses for Bedford ShaleShale

Pottery & DishesPottery & Dishes

Bricks for Building & Paving Bricks for Building & Paving

Tile for Flooring, Kitchens & Tile for Flooring, Kitchens & Bathrooms Bathrooms

What do you need to know?What do you need to know? How did the quarries get started? (Know the John How did the quarries get started? (Know the John

Baldwin story + year)Baldwin story + year) When was Berea Sandstone mined? (Years of When was Berea Sandstone mined? (Years of

quarry operation.)quarry operation.) What are the uses for Berea Sandstone? (Know What are the uses for Berea Sandstone? (Know

the various grades & their uses.)the various grades & their uses.) What distinguishes the various grades of What distinguishes the various grades of

sandstone?sandstone? When did the quarries shut down and why?When did the quarries shut down and why? What are some uses of the Bedford Shale?What are some uses of the Bedford Shale? Who worked in the quarries?Who worked in the quarries? Know some buildings made of Berea Sandstone.Know some buildings made of Berea Sandstone.