Stones - For Building and Decoration #262884

It was not, however, until the early part of the present cen tury that granite began to be used at all extensively in and about Boston, when the material was introduced in considera ble quantities by canal from Chelmsford, 30 miles distant. It was from Chelmsford stone that was constructed in 1810 the Boston court-house; in 1814 the New South church and about the same time the Congregational house on Beacon Street the old Parkman house on Bowdoin Square University hall in Cambridge; and in 1818 the first stone block in the city, a portion of which is still standing, on Brattle Street. In this year also a considerable quantity of the stone was shipped to Savannah, Georgia, for the construction of a church at that place. The greater part of this granite was, however, obtained from bowlders, and it was not until the Opening of quarries at Quincy, in 1825, for the purpose of Obtaining stone for the con struction of the Bunker Hill monument that the business assumed any great importance.