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)
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