NC Granite
North Carolina Granite Corporation, Flat Rock, NC
Track Diagram
This diagram, derived from the A&Y valuation blueprint photographed in the National Archives, shows the quarry and the immediate area.
History
This page is about the North Carolina Granite quarry at Flat Rock, 2 miles east of Mount Airy. It was one of the main reasons the A&Y was constructed to Mount Airy and one of the bigger customers for the railway during its existence. The quarry does not ship stone by rail these days, though the line remains it is not operational.
This quarry was first operated in 1743, well before the Revolutionary War, by the Brothers of the Moravian Church who came to this region from Germany. Operations were limited in those days because of the lack of equipment and technology. The ownership of the quarry site passed through many hands over the next hundred years until 1889, when the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad was built from Greensboro to Mount Airy.
Mr. Thomas Woodroffe was selected to build the railway stations along the new rail line, and he decided to use the stone from the Mount Airy Quarry. He organized the North Carolina Granite Company May 14, 1889, and purchased the quarry site. The quarry has been in continuous operation ever since.
Photo Gallery
Here are photos I took of the quarry and the surrounding area, while visiting in 1999. Unfortunately it was closed so I couldn't ask for a tour or get closer. Hopefully, I can get some better, and even historic, photos when I contact the company. The North Carolina Collection at UNC Library has some wonderful shots of the quarry works circa 1905 that I hope to obtain in the future for display here.
The collage was sent to me by Robert L. Harris. It shows the quarry when it was being served by the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railway prior to 1899.
This is the largest open pit granite quarry in the U.S.
North Carolina Granite Company was purchased by Polycor in 2021. It may be slated for closure.
A photo post card depicts the quarry operations in 1906. You can see the flat cars and gondolas in the center, probably a granite saw house with the steam and smoke billowing to the left and a guy derrick to the right
A real photo post card depicts several quarry workers standing proudly on and by huge granite chunks from the quarry in 1908.
An undated photo showing workers by slabs on cribbing.
A photo from 1914 showing a large column of granite being lowered to a waiting Southern Railway flat car.
An undated artists rendering of the quarry.
An undated photo of the quarry.
An undated photo of the quarry.
An undated photo of the quarry.
An undated photo of the quarry.
Large stones were the main product, but waste material could be crushed and used as fill, or poultry grit. This quarry sold grit under the brand name "Gran-i-grit".