Restoration Almost Complete

The exterior granite of Quincy's Old City Hall (1844) has been cleaned and fitted with energy efficient windows and doors.  Workers inside are adding the finishing touches to this project that was started in 2013 and will open to the general public soon.

Honoring Those Who Have Served

This anchor is beautifully rendered in stone (Quincy granite) at the Mount Wollaston Cemetery.  My father served on a mine sweeper in WWII and this post honors him and all who have served our country.

Granite Planet

Happy Monochrome Monday!  This granite sphere is located in Mount Wollaston Cemetery.

Relief

This relief sculpture was spotted and captured on a gravestone at Mount Wollaston Cemetery.  It must have been a lot of work to remove the layer of Quincy Granite and sculpt the family name, READ.   The surname also reminded me of Boston's Book Festival this weekend.  Enjoy!

Blues Clues

Today's post is a puzzler:
After donning blue surgical booties, and stepping onto this beautiful curved Quincy granite step you will enter this National Historic Landmark.  This country estate, built in 1770, overlooks Quincy Bay and a tour of it's interior will transport you back to the Revolutionary War Era. The puzzler will be revealed in tomorrow's "old house" post.  Got any answers?

A Moment to Pause and Remember . . .

Memorial Day is the federal holiday set aside each May to remember all the armed forces men and women who died while serving our country.  The Badger family was a very prominent Quincy family involved in the granite industry.  In August of 1862, Ezra Badger enlisted in the Civil war as a soldier in company D, 39th Massachusetts infantry regiment.  He was 64 years old!   At enlistment, he held the rank of wagoner, and mustered out 2 months later. 

Historic Rehab

Quincy's historic City Hall is in the middle of an $8 million renovation project.  It is expected to be completed by January, 2015.  You can see older springtime posts HERE.

Reviving a "Classic"

Today's Monochrome Monday picture is a close-up of the facade of Quincy Savings Bank Building on Hancock Street.  This 1897, classical revival building features Quincy granite in it's very importatnt-looking doorway.  Notice the Roman-style use of a "v" instead of a "u" in the spelling of Quincy.  The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Greek Revival

Church of the Presidents

Chiseled In History

The Lyon's Turning Mill is the site of an historic granite turning mill that was established in 1893 off a roadway now called Ricciuti Drive.  An "Open House" was held there this past weekend providing an opportunity to see this National Register Historic Site up close complete with demonstrations of some old granite cutting hand tools.

Our Navy's Long History

In 1832, Alexander Parris designed this granite block building that now houses the museum for the U.S. Frigate Constitution anchored nearby in the Charlestown Navy Yard. I would hazard a guess that this was built with Quincy granite but I haven't been able to document that.   Parris was an innovator of naval architecture and much of his naval architectural work can be viewed here.

United First Parish Church

The bell tower of this National Historic Landmark in Quincy Center was recently restored.  This church building is considered to be one of the finest standing Greek Revival church buildings in New England.  It was designed by noted architect Alexander Parris, who also designed Quincy Market in nearby Boston.  Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried here with their wives.  This magnificent building was made of Quincy granite and completed in 1828.

I also included a little spring green for "Earth Day".  Go outside and enjoy!

Golden Tower

The First Parish Church of the Presidents in Quincy Center has had its bell tower and clock refurbished just in time for a spring unveiling. The gold really glistens in the sun.

Stone Stairway To Heaven

This stately, and rather grand mausoleum is made from Quincy granite. It is located in Forest Hills Cemetery, one of the finest examples of a 19th century garden cemetery. There is so much history and art here . . . definitely worth your time. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

It's Monochrome Monday!

"Upon This Rock..."

Built in 1844, from great blocks of Quincy granite, is the former Church of Saints Peter & Paul in South Boston. Gridley J.F. Bryant, son of the famed railroad pioneer, was the architect on this Gothic revival church. This was the first Roman Catholic Church in South Boston; it was closed in 1995, and turned into condos.

Castle In The Clouds

The Forbes Hill Standpipe, made of steel and uncoursed Quincy granite is the closest Quincy gets to a medieval French chateaux. The Forbes Hill Reservoir and standpipe were built by the Metropolitan (Boston) Water Board in 1900, to supply the City of Quincy after it joined the Water System in 1897. Pipes from Chestnut Hill fed the Reservoir and standpipe, which then supplied the surrounding town by gravity. The standpipe was taken out of service in 1955 and the reservoir filled in some years before, following a drowning. You can see another view of it here.

Happy Skywatch Friday!