Thank you for your information on North River.
Best,
Leland
-----Original Message-----
From: mflynch <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 2:49 AM
Subject: Re: Building Stone Research


>North River Bluestone refers to a blue sandstone from the mid-Hudson Valley
>(mostly Ulster County) that was used extensively for sidewalks in the mid
to
>late 19th and early 20th centuries.  The "North river" referred to was the
>Hudson River.  Although the Ulster County quarries are silent now (there is
>still "bluestone" quarried in the Helderberg area of SW Albany county),
>there is an excellent outdoor sculpture garden/museum in woodstock, NY
>called Opus 40 which is built of bluestone.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Leland Torrence <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
><[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 7:36 AM
>Subject: Re: Building Stone Research
>
>
>>O.K.  Can anyone tell me about North River blue stone or Ohio Ashlar
>>("Berea" or "Bereco") quarried in the late 1880's.
>>Also very interested in this pink mortar thing.  We now have responses
>>showing use by McKim, Richardson and Hunt.  Were they all in the pink in
>the
>>1890's?
>>John the mortar man - ANY THOUGHTS???  Stop lurking.  I promise I will
come
>>to a seminar.  By the way do you have any scholarships?
>>Michael - man of polymer and lime - KNOWLEDGE?
>>
>>Best to all,
>>Leland
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: mflynch <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Saturday, December 12, 1998 1:21 AM
>>Subject: Re: Building Stone Research
>>
>>
>>>Thank you very much for the suggestion.  As it turns out I work in the NY
>>>SHPO and I led the tour that Peter Rockwell (sculptor son of Norman
>>>Rockwell) gave that day.  I guided through the building, he talked about
>>the
>>>stone carving.  One of the master carvers, Louis Hinton, wrote a memoir
at
>>>the end of his life discussing his work at the capitol.  In particular he
>>>bemoaned the lack of skill and craftsmen ship evident in the stone work
>>>being done at the time (1920s).  He complained about the introduction of
>>>pneumatic-owered chisels, but I also wonder whether he, as an Englishman,
>>>felt the Italian stonecarvers working at that period weren't as good as
he
>>>and his compatriots.  Three years ago I wrote a chapter on the Albany
>stone
>>>carvers for the "Guide to Albany Architecture" published by Mt. Ida
Press.
>>>I am always on the lookout for more documented info on stonecarvers since
>>so
>>>much of there work was annonymous.  did you know that there were so many
>>>stone carvers working in Albany in the early 1800s that Latrobe sent to
>>>Albany to hire journeyman for work on the U.S. Capitol?  I have a ledger
>>>from the principle stonecarver in Albany 1802-1820, a Scotsman named
Peter
>>>McNab (most of the stonecarvers on the White House were also Scottish).
>>One
>>>of his cutters left Albany as a journeyman, and returned 8 years later as
>a
>>>master carver in his own right.  I haven't determined yet whether he was
>>one
>>>of themen who went to Washington for that work or not.
>>>Anyway, its a passion of mine, and I appreciate any suggestions and lead,
>>>even the ones I know about, because you might just come up with one I
>don't
>>>know about.
>>>Michael 'stoned again'
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Marilyn Harper <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>><[log in to unmask]>
>>>Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 8:34 AM
>>>Subject: Building Stone Research
>>>
>>>
>>>>     Michael--
>>>>
>>>>     Some time ago, a fairly large book was published on the New York
>>State
>>>>     capitol in Albany, at the time of its restoration.  There is an
>>>article in
>>>>     it on the stone carvers, written by a stone carver.  I think it was
>>>fairly
>>>>     focused on the techniques and details of the carvings, but there
may
>>>have
>>>>     been other info that might be useful.  Also, I have a feeling that
>it
>>>was
>>>>     based on fairly detailed records that gave names, etc., for the
>>>workmen.
>>>>
>>>>     New York State Historic Preservation Office might have citation or
>>>know
>>>>     where a copy might be found, if you want to see the book.
>>>>
>>>>     Marilyn Harper
>>>>     National Register of Historic Places
>>>>     (which is in no way responsible for the content of this message)
>