There were a dozen or more quarries on Rattlesnake Hill, and 25-30 finishing sheds.  During the period with New England Granite Co. was quarrying and finishing stone for the Congressional Library in Washington there were 1,400 men employed in the industry. 

• Ola Anderson (Ellen's brother) had a small but successful granite business

• John Swenson joined him in 1882 to learn the trade

John purchases Cutting Shed from George Ballared for $500/$750, depending on source.

Drilling was done by hand in the 14 independent quarries operating. 

Expansion

Move to North Street & acquire Hollis Quarry

In a partnership with Hunton, Anderson, and Downing. 

John was the proprietor of Concord Polishing Works (1892-1907) on Commercial Streets Penacook in partnership with Thomas Nawn.  The Contoocook River powered it. 

1894-First major building contract for the First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston & addition to NH State House

Omar joins Swenson Granite

Work is produced in the circular shed. 

Introduction of pneumatic tools

Purchase of Granite Railway Co. Quarry - larger "hole" used for monumental and building purpose.  

Low bidders on the Germania Life Insurance Building for Union Square, NY.  Omar led this build.

This allowed for financing of a new shed building, funded by Mechanics National Bank.  Built by Hugo Lindgren as a contractor.  Over $2,000 in tools were ordered from Thompson & Hoague. 

Boston & Maine Railroad survey to plan for tracks.

John and his 3 sons Omar, Guy and John Arthur are running the company

Established NYC Offices  

Fifth Avenue Building  and 18 different colors of granite

385 Native-born Swedes were living in Concord

Swenson becomes the largest producer of granite in NH

1918 - replaced the horse-drawn wagons with steam wagon

1921 -The company was unionized, and  they were unable to negotiate a settlement with the union.   That did not work and after 10 months of "open-shop", they negotiated new agreements with G.C.I.A. and Quarry Workers.   

1923 - the company installed a dust-gathering machine in the plant.

The Great Depression crippled the industry, as did changes in building technology with a move to steel and concrete. Only two quarries were left: Granite State Quarry Co formed in 1923) and Swenson. 

Swenson Granite survived because the demand for buildings the federal government was building to create jobs. 

1941 Swenson Granite is the only quarry left in Concord

As part of the war effort the plant moved to a 24/7 schedule making the torpedo netting that was used across harbor entrances and on the sides of ships and recondition rockets

The third generation joins operations John (Omar's son), Kneeland (John Arthur), and David and Malcolm (Guy Swenson)

1952 Acquires Woodbury Quarry 

1955 Jet channel introduced 

1960s competition from Italy & Canada increased.  US is one of the 4 largest granite producters in the US. 

1973 Kurt & Kevin (4th generation) take over operations

Swenson ends the Building granite division & closes NYC Office

The introduction of interstate highway curbing became the leading product

1980 First Retail store

1984 Acquisition of Rock of Ages

Becomes the largest quarrier and granite memorial manufacturer in North America

1987 Swenson Stone Constants is formed by Malcolm & David Swenson to continue the tradition of architectural stone. 

1991, Rock of Ages was the only granite quarrier in Barre and had purchased an interest in 14 Canadian quarries, a granite manufacturing plant in Quebec, and 14 granite quarries in the state of Georgia

October 1997 The Rock of Ages IPO on NASDAQ under the symbol ROAC

1997 Acquired Andreson-Friberg  Production, purchase of Childs & Childs and of Keith Monument and their affiliated companies

156 Employees: 26 quarries/76 factories/37 retail/17 HQ

Produces 500,000 cubic feet a year

Retail Sales: 65% /Curbing: 35%

New owners Polycore closes the Swenson Granite Quarry.

It seems unthinkable that a time would come when the Granite State no longer produces granite. But last month, the last commercial granite quarry in New Hampshire was quietly shut down and its quarrymen laid off.