The city of Barre in Vermont is known as the “Granite capital of the world” due to the economic foundation it established from the sale of granite quarried throughout eastern Vermont in the late 1800s. This reputation was driven in many ways by the granite processing facility started by the Jones Brothers, where large blocks of granite were processed into finished products. Their site and facility had fallen into disuse in the 1970s but have since been transformed with the creation of the Vermont Granite Museum to preserve the history of industry, but also serve as an educational resource as well as an economic driver for the community and region.
Converting the Jones Brothers Manufacturing Plant
The discovery of gray granite in the northern region of Vermont in the 19th century would see the city of Barre develop facilities to support the cultivation of this material to the point that what was quarried would be called “Barre granite.” It compelled Marshall and Seward Jones to expand their existing monument business into Barre. They purchased a granite quarry and leased a granite manufacturing shed in 1895 which would become known as the largest in the world. This granite shed would become an essential part of the Jones Brothers Manufacturing Plant. It was the oldest operating granite works in Vermont when it ceased operations in 1975.
The Jones Brothers Granite Shed and other buildings on the site fell into disrepair afterward, compelling questions of how the space could be preserved and rehabilitated. These sorts of questions would be answered with the founding of the Vermont Granite Museum in 1994 by a coalition of over 300 Central Vermont citizens. In 1997, the Vermont Granite Museum purchased the Jones Brothers Granite Shed to convert it into a museum. The Jones Brothers Granite Shed is the principal surviving building of the once larger complex of buildings on the site.
This transformation of the space is the result of a relentless effort to salvage the facility and site. All of it was enabled by a genuine endeavor to preserve the story and memories of the local granite industry, the results of which have created a powerful economic and cultural impact for stakeholders and the surrounding community.
Engaging, Educating and Celebrating a Local Industry
The Vermont Granite Museum’s purpose is to engage, educate and celebrate the heritage and accomplishments of Vermont’s granite industry. They’ve done this by acquiring and sharing collections, stories and demonstrating skills that define the industry’s collective identity and guide its future. The many exhibits on display across the museum are all connected to this central purpose.
In 2007 the Vermont Granite Museum and Stone Arts School began arranging a series of workshops held at the museum facility. They are designed as a place where sculptors from around the world can explore traditional and modern stone carving techniques with working professionals, all while promoting granite as a vital material for artistic expression.
The Museum Store contains various unique items for sale, some of which incorporate the Barre Memorial Rose, which has become a Barre tradition. Apparel, art, cards and books are just a few of the types of items that are available for purchase. As an additional means of support, museum memberships allows anyone to join and support the efforts of the Vermont Granite Museum, with individual and business memberships. The benefits of each include free admission to the museum, free use of the archives by appointment, 1a 0% discount in the museum store and more.
Supporters also have special access to numerous events and initiatives that take place throughout the year, cultivating a sense of community focused around the granite industry. These began with the first annual Granite Festival in 1998 and have expanded to conferences, meetings and even weddings. Additionally, the museum has been able to cultivate initiatives like the Barre Granite Sculpture Quest, highlighting an important means of connection and engagement. Anyone who partakes is eligible for a prize that they can redeem at the Vermont Granite Museum.
All of these efforts are the result of an endeavor to both preserve and transform a genuine piece of industry history. Doing so has allowed the Vermont Granite Museum to create options and opportunities for stakeholders and the entire community in the present and future.
History Cut in Stone
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Jones Brothers Granite Shed that defines the Vermont Granite Museum has been transformed in a way that has been able to cultivate the culture of the region while driving revenue for stakeholders. It showcases the transformative power that monuments can represent when utilized in a way that makes sense for a specific community.
