Rock of Ages Corporation
Vermont-based granite company known for large-scale quarrying and memorials; operates a major open-pit granite quarry near Barre and produces monuments, architectural stone and smaller finished products.
Overview
Rock of Ages Corporation is a Vermont company that quarried and finished dimension granite for monuments, buildings and smaller consumer goods. Headquartered in the Graniteville area near Barre, the firm developed a reputation for durable, fine-grained grey granite used widely in memorials and architectural projects.
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Operations and products
The company extracted large blocks of granite from an open-pit quarry and then sawed, polished and carved the stone into headstones, memorials, architectural slabs and smaller finished items. In addition to cemetery monuments, products included building stone, façade panels and custom pieces for contractors and retail customers. The workforce has numbered in the low hundreds, reflecting the mix of heavy quarrying and skilled finishing trades.
Quarry and geology
Rock of Ages operated one of the largest commercial granite quarries in the world, an open pit that reached roughly 600 feet (about 180 m) deep and covered on the order of fifty acres. The granite quarried in the Barre region is noted for its fine grain and uniform color, qualities that make it desirable for carved memorials and dimension stone.
History and ownership
Founded in the late 19th century, the company grew alongside Barre's development as a center for granite quarrying and stonecutting. In October 2010 another granite company announced plans to acquire Rock of Ages for approximately $39 million, a transaction reflecting consolidation in the dimension-stone industry. Financial and employment figures have varied across economic cycles; for example, company reports from the late 2000s noted profits and a workforce of a few hundred.
Importance and distinctions
Beyond its commercial role, Rock of Ages and the Barre area have cultural significance in American stonecraft. The region supplied stone for public monuments and civic architecture across the United States, and local quarries supported a community of skilled carvers and tradespeople. The scale of Rock of Ages' quarry made it notable among global dimension-stone operations.
Further information
Questions and answers
Q: What does Rock of Ages Corporation do?
A: Rock of Ages Corporation mines granite in Vermont and sells it primarily for use in memorials.
Q: When was Rock of Ages Corporation established?
A: Rock of Ages Corporation was established in 1885.
Q: Where is Rock of Ages Corporation headquartered?
A: Rock of Ages Corporation is headquartered in Graniteville, Vermont, which is close to Barre.
Q: How many people work for Rock of Ages Corporation?
A: Around 230 people work for Rock of Ages Corporation.
Q: What was the profit of Rock of Ages Corporation in 2008?
A: Rock of Ages Corporation had a profit of about $800,000 in 2008.
Q: Who is buying Rock of Ages Corporation?
A: In October 2010, Swenson Granite Company announced it would buy Rock of Ages Corporation for $39 million.
Q: What is the size and depth of the largest granite quarry in the world, which is run by Rock of Ages Corporation?
A: The largest granite quarry in the world, which is run by Rock of Ages Corporation, is about 600 feet (180 m) deep and covers about 50 acres.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Rock of Ages Corporation Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/83532
Sources
- finance.yahoo.com : "Profile"
- vermontbiz.com : "Swenson Granite to buy Rock of Ages in cash deal for $39 million"
- central-vt.com : "ROCK OF AGES"