About Vermont Granite
Granite plays an important role in the geography of Vermont, as well as its industrial development over the past 200 years. Vermont is rich in metamorphic rock, folded repeatedly by multiple ice ages and geological pressure. The terrain is rocky, from pebble to mountain. To see for yourself, ask a Vermont farmer if you can help pick rocks in the spring.
Vermont's granite boom peaked at the turn of the last century. Demand for granite had increased dramatically after the Civil War, and with the reach of the railroads to central Vermont and the popularization of the beaux-arts building style, granite was in high demand into the late 19th century. Vermont's quarries contained particularly high-quality granite for building and sculpture; stones quarried in Vermont were used in significant buildings across the country, including the Pennsylvania State Capitol building and Washington DC's Union Station and Old Post Office Building. Demand for granite had decreased by the Great Depression, but Vermont still has active granite quarries today, primarily in Barre and Bethel.
For our mills, we use Barre Gray Granite, which has an exceptionally fine grain, even texture, and durability. It also has an ideal carving capacity making it popular among sculptors and millers alike. Granite millstones have a large thermal mass. It is this mass that helps to keep temperature low during the milling process, thereby protecting nutrients in the grain that may be damaged by heat.