The Cape Ann Granite industry began in the early 1800s.   Granite from Lanesville and Rockport was used in many cities on the east coast of the US.   As the quarry industry matured, steam engines, drills, pumps, railways and other technologies transformed the landscape and economy on the northern part of the Cape.   As concrete and asphalt began to replace granite after World War I, the quarry industry eventually came to an end. There are scores of old quarries of various sizes on Cape Ann, most on private property.   I had not visited any since moving south almost 50 years ago.   I particularly wanted to visit the old Upper Pit of the Pigeon Hill Granite Co. in Rockport, now known as Steel Derrick Quarry, since it has some interesting historic artifacts nearby.

On our way to Steel Derrick Quarry, we (my two sisters and I) passed by Butman Pit, a smaller quarry.

Steel Derrick Quarry We came in from the lower right corner in this drone shot, and traveled clockwise around the quarry.   The top of this image is more or less to the northeast.

First view of the quarry Grout pile (waste granite) in the foreground...

It was a beautiful day to be out exploring, although unusually hot for September.

View south into the narrow "cove" at the SW corner of the quarry.

Sheer rock faces where the granite was cut

Slabs of granite along the quarry's rim

View across the quarry

Quarried stone with various iron implements attached.

View toward the former location of one of the main quarry derricks

This old building once housed steam boilers to power the drills used to cut stone in the late 1800s.

Granite shell of the boiler building

Note some of the "ornamentation" in the stone work, in this and the previous image.

Interior of one of the rooms

Large doorway, leading out to a stone-enclosed "court-yard"

Another room

Cylindrical structure at the granite building. I don't know if this is the base of an old smokestack or what...

Stone chimney(?)

Another doorway

Yard enclosed by granite walls, containing upright slabs. Continued on Page 2

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