Gantts Quarry: Difference between revisions
m (Dystopos moved page Gantt Quarry to Gantts Quarry) |
No edit summary |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox City | |||
|name=Gantts Quarry | |||
|type=Town | |||
|logo= | |||
|year=1910 | |||
|year2=–2001 | |||
|population=0 | |||
|mayor=- | |||
|fire=- | |||
|police=- | |||
|schools=Talladega County Schools | |||
|website= | |||
|map=[[File:Gantts Quarry locator map.png|225px]] | |||
|locate=Gantts+Quarry | |||
}} | |||
'''Gantts Quarry''' was a marble quarry and former community and incorporated municipality near [[Sylacauga]] in southern [[Talladega County]]. | |||
The marble deposit was discovered by Dr [[Edward Gantt]] who purchased the property in [[1830]]. By 1840 Gantt was quarrying marble, and employed ox teams to haul slabs 9 miles to a landing on the [[Coosa River]]. He abandoned the operation in the late 1850s, unable to successfully recoup his costs without rail service. | |||
Two 2-foot by 4-foot blocks of marble from Gantt Quarry represent Alabama as "[[Washington Monument Commemorative Stones|Commemmorative Stones]]" inside the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. | |||
The | The quarry was purchased in the late 1890s by [[Amos Mylin]] and [[Alexander King]] of Pennsylvania with Dr [[George A. Hill]] of Talladega County. They formed the [[Alabama Marble & Stone Co.]] in [[1899]], with newspaper publisher and [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Frank Evans]] of Birmingham as a major shareholder. The partners obtained modern quarrying equipment, arranged for a rail spur from the [[Alabama Mineral Railroad]], and constructed housing and other facilities. To promote the venture, they removed large specimens of marble to be exhibited around the country. One such block— displayed in Alabama's exhibit at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York— was compared favorably to the best marble from Carrara, Italy or Paros, Greece, and reportedly generated much interest from sculptors visiting the fair. | ||
Gantts Quarry was incorporated as a municipality in [[1910]], an action generally interpreted as a defense against being annexed by Sylacauga. A [[Gannts Quarry Post Office]] shared space with a small public library in a framed building which was later relocated to grounds of Sylacauga's [[B. B. Comer Museum]] and restored. | |||
The population of Gantts Quarry peaked in the [[1930 U.S. Census]] with 542 residents. The [[Great Depression]] suppressed the market for marble, and the town shrank to 456 by [[1940]]. | |||
The vacant company houses were demolished in the 1960s and the others sold to their occupants. The quarry was still active in producing structural and dimensional stone, as well as crushed stone used in roofing and terrazzo. | |||
By [[2001]] no residents were reported, and the municipality lost its status officially on [[December 31]] of that year. | |||
== | ==Demographics== | ||
'''year''' '''pop.''' '''%change''' | |||
1920 | 413 | - | | |||
1930 | 542 | +31.2% | | |||
1940 | 456 | -15.9% | | |||
1950 | 426 | -6.6% | | |||
1960 | 238 | -44.1% | | |||
1970 | 63 | -73.5% | | |||
1980 | 71 | +12.7% | | |||
1990 | 7 | -90.1% | | |||
2000 | 0 | -100.0% | | |||
{{Talladega County}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119995666/equal-to-carrara-is-alabama-marble-gant/ Equal to Carrara is Alabama Marble]" (July 28, 1901) {{BAH}}, p. 15 | * "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119995666/equal-to-carrara-is-alabama-marble-gant/ Equal to Carrara is Alabama Marble]" (July 28, 1901) {{BAH}}, p. 15 | ||
* Jacob, Judith M. (2005) "[https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/wamo/stones.pdf The Washington Monument A Technical History and Catalog of the Commemorative Stones]" National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior | * Jacob, Judith M. (2005) "[https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/wamo/stones.pdf The Washington Monument A Technical History and Catalog of the Commemorative Stones]" National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior | ||
* "[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gantts_Quarry,_Alabama Gantts Quarry, Alabama]" (October 20, 2022) Wikipedia - accessed March 3, 2023 | |||
==External links== | |||
* [https://loc.gov/pictures/item/al0865/ Gannts Quarry] at the Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Gannts Quarry|*]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1910 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:2001 disestablishments]] | |||
[[Category: | |||
Revision as of 16:54, 3 March 2023
Town of Gantts Quarry | |
Incorporated | 1910–2001 |
---|---|
Population | 0 |
Mayor | - |
School district | Talladega County Schools |
Government | |
Web site | |
Locate with Google Maps |
Gantts Quarry was a marble quarry and former community and incorporated municipality near Sylacauga in southern Talladega County.
The marble deposit was discovered by Dr Edward Gantt who purchased the property in 1830. By 1840 Gantt was quarrying marble, and employed ox teams to haul slabs 9 miles to a landing on the Coosa River. He abandoned the operation in the late 1850s, unable to successfully recoup his costs without rail service.
Two 2-foot by 4-foot blocks of marble from Gantt Quarry represent Alabama as "Commemmorative Stones" inside the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.
The quarry was purchased in the late 1890s by Amos Mylin and Alexander King of Pennsylvania with Dr George A. Hill of Talladega County. They formed the Alabama Marble & Stone Co. in 1899, with newspaper publisher and Mayor Frank Evans of Birmingham as a major shareholder. The partners obtained modern quarrying equipment, arranged for a rail spur from the Alabama Mineral Railroad, and constructed housing and other facilities. To promote the venture, they removed large specimens of marble to be exhibited around the country. One such block— displayed in Alabama's exhibit at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York— was compared favorably to the best marble from Carrara, Italy or Paros, Greece, and reportedly generated much interest from sculptors visiting the fair.
Gantts Quarry was incorporated as a municipality in 1910, an action generally interpreted as a defense against being annexed by Sylacauga. A Gannts Quarry Post Office shared space with a small public library in a framed building which was later relocated to grounds of Sylacauga's B. B. Comer Museum and restored.
The population of Gantts Quarry peaked in the 1930 U.S. Census with 542 residents. The Great Depression suppressed the market for marble, and the town shrank to 456 by 1940.
The vacant company houses were demolished in the 1960s and the others sold to their occupants. The quarry was still active in producing structural and dimensional stone, as well as crushed stone used in roofing and terrazzo.
By 2001 no residents were reported, and the municipality lost its status officially on December 31 of that year.
Demographics
year pop. %change 1920 | 413 | - | 1930 | 542 | +31.2% | 1940 | 456 | -15.9% | 1950 | 426 | -6.6% | 1960 | 238 | -44.1% | 1970 | 63 | -73.5% | 1980 | 71 | +12.7% | 1990 | 7 | -90.1% | 2000 | 0 | -100.0% |
Talladega County | |
---|---|
Topics | |
Municipalities |
Bon Air | Childersburg | Lincoln | Munford | Oak Grove | Oxford | Sylacauga | Talladega (seat) Talladega Springs | Vincent | Waldo | |
References
- "Equal to Carrara is Alabama Marble" (July 28, 1901) The Birmingham Age-Herald, p. 15
- Jacob, Judith M. (2005) "The Washington Monument A Technical History and Catalog of the Commemorative Stones" National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior
- "Gantts Quarry, Alabama" (October 20, 2022) Wikipedia - accessed March 3, 2023
External links
- Gannts Quarry at the Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress