A friend recommends Bownocker's STONES OF OHIO (1915) as a possible source
of information on Ohio ashlar.  He -- Steve Gordon -- can be contacted at
[log in to unmask]

On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, mflynch wrote:

> 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)
>

Maura Johnson, Field Services Coordinator
Ohio Historic Preservation Office
BGSU, Jerome Library, 5th Floor
Bowling Green, OH  43403
Phone:  419-372-6935   Fax:  419-372-0155