Barre Vermont Interior Jojes Brose Polishing Shed 1905-09 Real Photo Postcard
Jones Brothers was a prominent firm within Barre, Vermont's renowned granite industry. This postcard depicts the interior of their polishing shed, a critical stage in the granite processing workflow. Here, rough-cut granite blocks were meticulously finished and smoothed using industrial machinery, likely powered by overhead belt and pulley systems, a common power transmission method in factories of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The process involved abrasive compounds and mechanical buffers to prepare the stone for monuments, building facades, and other architectural and decorative applications.
Barre, Vermont, became known as the "Granite Capital of the World" from the late 19th century well into the 20th, due to its vast, high-quality granite deposits. The industry fueled significant economic growth and attracted a diverse population of skilled quarrymen and stonecutters, particularly immigrants from Italy, Scotland, and Scandinavia. Such industrial scenes highlight the scale of operations and technological advancements that characterized American manufacturing during this period, demonstrating the labor-intensive yet mechanized nature of a vital extractive industry.
Barre, Vermont, became known as the "Granite Capital of the World" from the late 19th century well into the 20th, due to its vast, high-quality granite deposits. The industry fueled significant economic growth and attracted a diverse population of skilled quarrymen and stonecutters, particularly immigrants from Italy, Scotland, and Scandinavia. Such industrial scenes highlight the scale of operations and technological advancements that characterized American manufacturing during this period, demonstrating the labor-intensive yet mechanized nature of a vital extractive industry.
