HISTORY

Slate Valley and The Slate Industry

Geography of The Slate Valley

The Slate Valley extends approximately twenty-four miles along the New York/Vermont border from Granville, NY and Rupert, VT north to Fair Haven, VT.

The area is about six miles wide. In 1839, slate deposits were discovered near Fair Haven, but quarrying was found impractical and uses for slate were limited. By the mid -1840s things began to change, and a strong future for the industry looked promising. The roof of a barn one mile south of Fair Haven was the first to be covered with slate in 1848. It was feared the barn would not withstand the weight of the stone. The barn is still standing today and the same slate roof is intact.
Early Slate Industry
 
With the industry ready to take off, many workers were recruited. In 1850, the first Welsh immigrants arrived in Fair Haven, and in 1852 thirty Welsh settlers arrived in Middle Granville. Several slate companies were formed. The biggest problem early on was the transportation of the quarried stone. In order to solve the problem, the Rutland and Washington Railroad, which had started in 1845, extended its lines to Poultney, VT and later to Salem, NY and Eagle Bridge, NY. This move allowed the industry to continue to grow.
Immigration to the Slate Valley
 
Immigration of workers to the Slate Valley increased with three hundred recruited from Wales in 1891 when the industry began to boom. And immigrants continued to come to the area through the 1890s and early 1900s - from Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Italy, Ireland, Hungary and later Canada. Many were already skilled quarrymen as the Welsh had been when they first arrived in this country. Many were skilled in other types of mining as well.

The site of the present Slate Valley Museum and adjacent streets became home as row houses were built similar to those in Wales. Nearby homes were run as boarding houses, particularly by the Slovaks who waited to send for their families until they were established. They felt at home in a valley between two mountains, much like their native land.

The arrival of these peoples brought a great diversity of cultures to the Slate Valley. Although native languages and customs were often maintained in homes and neighborhoods and among church congregations, by the 1900s children were encouraged to become part of their "new country."
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The 20th Century
 
World War I, the Great Depression of 1929 and World War II all took a toll on the slate industry and the economy of the area in general. During World War II, the slate industry virtually shut down because so much manpower was lost to the armed forces and defense industries. Several who left their communities did not return.

After the war many changes began which would end up creating a resurgence in the slate business. Methods of quarrying improved with the advent of more advanced mechanization, greatly increasing production. Methods of shipping also saw significant advances. The industry has progressed much to the credit of all the communities in the Slate Valley, and to the credit of all the workers who developed slate quarrying from its very beginnings. First the Welsh brought their skills here from a country where many were denied a future in quarrying. Others developed their skills with diligence and hard work. Pride in their work and a strong desire to improve their lives motivated them.

Slate Companies

The following list are some of the great companies in the Slate Valley of New York and Vermont.

Baker Slate, Inc.

Eric & Sondra Baker

Physical Address: 

1362 County Rt. 24

Granville NY 12832

Mailing Address: 

875 VT Rt. 133

Pawlet VT 05671

Phone: (518) 642-3808

Bkrsl8@aol.com

www.bakerslate.com


Purple, Gray-Green, Gray-Black; Roofing Slates

Camara Slate Products

Shawn Camara

Physical Address: 

963 South Main Street

Fair Haven, VT 05743

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 8

Fair Haven VT 05743

Phone: (802) 265-3200

Fax: (802) 265-2211

info@camaraslate.com

www.camaraslate.com

Evergreen Slate Co., Inc.

Phil Phrehoda

P.O. Box 248

Granville, NY 12832

Phone: (518) 642-2530

Fax: (518) 642-9313

escsales@evergreenslate.com

www.evergreenslate.com


All colors; Vermont roofing slate products.

Greenstone Slate Co.

Richard & Jonathon Hill

P.O. Box 134

325 Upper Road

Poultney VT, 05764

Phone: (802) 287-4333

Fax: (802) 287-5720

http://www.greenstoneslate.com/

info@greenstoneslate.com


All colors; Roofing only

Hadeka Slate Flooring

Gary Hadeka

773 Briar Hill Road

West Pawlet, VT 05775

(802) 265-3351


Mainly green; flooring, roofing, flagging, structural

A.A. Hadeka Stone Corp.

Mary Beth Hadeka

P.O. Box 108

Hampton, NY 12837

Phone: (518) 282-9605

Fax: (518) 282-9746

www.hadekastone.com


All colors; landscape/baseball clay

Hilltop Slate, Inc.

Dan Boone

P.O. Box 201

Middle Granville, NY 12849

Phone: (518) 642-2270

www.hilltopslate.com


All colors; roofing and architectural slates

John Maslack Slate Co.

John Maslack

Maslack Drive

Poultney, VT 05764-9602

K-D Stone Products

Nelson Dunster

Rt. 22

Middle Granville, NY 12849

(518) 642-2082

Labas Slate Co.

Michael Labas

10 South St.

Granville, NY 12832

(518) 642-1149


Roofing slates

Mohawk Red Slate Co.

Manager Bill Enny

146 State Route 22A

Middle Granville, NY 12849

Phone: (518) 642-2400

Newmont Slate Co. Inc.

Jack Williams

720 Vermont Route 149

West Pawlet, VT  05775

Phone: (802) 884-8091

bobwilliams@newmontslate.com

www.newmontslate.com

Mainly black slate, roofing slate only

New England Slate Co.

Chuck Smid

363 Vermont Route 30 South

Poultney. VT 05764

Phone: (802) 287-2295

Fax: (802) 287-2296

info@neslate.com

www.neslate.com


All colors; distributes roofing slates


Paul E. Labas Slate Co.

7 South St.

Granville, NY 12832

(518) 361-2666


Roofing slate, custom slate pieces and counter tops, architectural and landscape slate

Pedro Slate Co., Inc.

Gertrude Pedro

1075 River St.

Fair Haven, VT 05743

(802) 265-3658


Roofing slate only

Rupe Slate Company

Richard Rupe

54 New Boston Road

Poultney, VT 05764

(802) 287-5735


Roofing slate only

Sheldon Slate Products

Tatko Brothers Slate Co., Inc

Beverly, Peter, & John Tatko

P.O. Box 199 (P.O. Box 198)

Middle Granville, NY 12849

(518) 642-1640

www.sheldonslate.com


All colors; roofing, flooring, countertops, etc.


Taran Brothers Slate Co.

Stephen, Joseph, & Barbara Taran

2522 VT Rt. 30 North

Poultney, VT 05764

(802) 287-9308 


Roofing, flooring, flagging, structural

Vermont Natural Colored Stone

David Rodgers

Physical Address: 

99 Prouty Road, Granville NY 12832

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 154, Poultney VT 05764

Fax: (518) 642-3501

www.vermontnaturalcoloredstone.com


Landscaping

Vermont Slate Depot

David Paul

1075 Vermont Rt. 30 North

Poultney, VT 05764

Phone: (802) 287-5780

Fax: (802) 884-1000

www.vermontslatedepot.com


All colors; Flagging, roofing, floor tiles, crafters

Vermont Structural Slate

Craig Markcrow

P.O. Box 98

3 Prospect Street

Fair Haven, VT 05743

Phone: (802) 265-4933

Fax: (802) 265-3865

www.vermontstructuralslate.com


All colors; Roofing, flooring, structural, and architectural

WSI Landscape Stone

Jeff Harrison

P.O. Box 127, Rt. 31

Poultney, VT 05764

Phone: (802) 287-4275

www.wsilandscapestone.com


Many colors; Landscape Stone

Slate Quarry Terms

The following glossary of terms is by no means complete. Explanations have been attempted for geological formations to which the quarrymen have given special names. The usage employed by them is not that of the geologist. The writer has attempted to translate the terms in the more geological terminology; and thus, the explanations may be insufficient due to lack of geological knowledge on his part.

*Words having an "ing" ending; such as, "plugging," or "splitting" are, of course, used without the "ing" ending also.

Slatemaker

One who makes slates from blocks, also known as a "splitter."

Splitter

One who splits, or makes slates from blocks, also known as a "slatemaker."

Trimmer

One who trims slates to definite sizes, in the length and width. Operates a trimming machine.

Blocker

Or Blockmaster, or Block-cutter. One who makes, or cuts blocks, from quarried rock, suitable for making slates.

Rockman

One who supervises, directs, and engages in the quarrying of the rock. He also designates where future quarrying will be done.

Engineer

One who operates hoisting machinery.

Rigger

One who adjusts cables on quarry poles, or puts up cables.

Climber

One who climbs the stick, or quarry pole to repair cables.

Motion-Boy

A boy who relays signals from the pit to the engineer to hoist stone, etc.

Smegger

An apprentice slatemaker. (Not used much today).

Puncher

One who operates a punching machine to punch nail holes in slates.

Caffar

The "boss"; (rarely used today).

Boss

One who owns, or runs the quarry.

Yardman

One who handles slates, stacks them, or piles them. Unskilled.

Slater, or Roofer

One who lays slate roofs. Not a quarryman.

Sawer

One who saws slate; runs the saws. Sawyer

Quarryman

Anyone working in the quarry.

Pit-Boss

Another name for the "rock-man."

Shanty

A small building housing the splitter and trimmer, and the trimming machine. It has racks to hold slates made by the men.

Splitting-shanty

See "Shanty".

Motion-shanty

A small building for the motion-boy.

Mill

A building where slate is made, or milled. Often one mill takes the place of many shanties.

Engine-house

A building containing hoisting machinery, and sometimes an air-compressor.

Shipping Sheds

Storage houses for slate.

Cableways

The system of cable running from the stick, or quarry pole, to the banks, on which the carriers run.

Carriers

The carriages which run on the cableways, and hold the hoisting rope. Used to raise blocks and the refuse box.

Refuse Box

A scoop-shaped metal box to hoist rubbish from the pit, and carry it to the dump.

Tramway

A system of cables arranged to support carrier baskets. Used to transport slate from the mill to the railroad. (One instance. Now out of use).

Derrick-hoist

A boom type hoist not commonly used in this region since the advent of the cableways.

Hoisting-engine

Engine which operates the hoisting drum.

Hoisting-drum

The drum on which the cable winds and unwinds; the hoisting cable.

Saddle

The iron casting on top of the quarry stick through which the cable runs.

Guys

The wire ropes which support the stick.

Dead-log

The timber to which the guys are anchored.

Rope-carriers

The running block on the cable which supports the hoisting rope.

Lazy-rope

The rope which carries the guide for the rope-carrier. See "rope-carrier."

Monkey

An automatic-dumping arrangement on the carrier.

Sheaves

The wheels through which the cables run. They are attached to the stick, or quarry pole.

Pumps

The machines used to keep the quarry pit free of water.

Blasting-machine

The instrument used to explode powder charges.

Signal-Bells

Bells located in the engine-house which are operated from the pit to signal for hoisting.

Rubbers

Long rubber tubing to hold powder when the drill-holes are wet.


Fuses

Used in blasting.

Exploders

Used in blasting.

Jaws

Braces on the stick, or quarry-pole to strengthen it.

Splices

Additions to the quarry stick to make it taller.

Quarry-hitch

A chain-hitch used on blocks.

Air-hoist

A compressed air hoist used to raise blocks onto, and from a saw-bed.

Saws

Rotary saws used in cutting blocks when the slate cannot be cross-fractured. Used on "unfading green slate."

Saw-tables

Or Saw-beds-- the table on which the block lies while being sawed.

Planer

Or Planing machine-- a machine which smoothes the surface of the slate.

Rubbing-bed

A devise for smoothing, and polishing the slate. A large grinder, or polishing stone.

Jack-hammer

A compressed air hammer. Used with an automatic-rotation drill.

Pit-hammer

A heavy jack-hammer used in quarrying.

Shanty-hammer

A lighter jack-hammer used in reducing blocks.

Block-cars

Small flat cars, running on narrow gauge tracks, which carry blocks to the mill.

Slate-cars

Small cars, running on narrow gauge tracks, and having racks to hold slates, which carry the slates from the mill to the yard.

Compressor

An air-compressing machine and tank usually in the engine-house.

Trimmer

Or Trimming machine-- a rotating blade, somewhat like the curved blade of a lawn mower, operated by a foot-treadle to trim light slates, and by power for heavier slates.

Plug-drills

Drills used in making plug-holes.

Plug

A type of wedge used in plug-holes.

Feathers

Always used with a "plug." To add extra pressure. A supplementary wedge,

Wedge

Tool used in quarrying rock to split rock.

Gouge

A type of chisel for sculping.

Splitter

Or Splitter's chisel, or Splitting chisel--a thin-bladed chisel used to split blocks into slates.

Lump-chisel

A tool to remove lumps from slate-surfaces.

Jumper

A long hand-drill used in the pit.

Splitter's mallet

A small wooden mallet used with a splitting chisel.

Marker

A tool used to score the plug-hole, and direct the line of fracture.

Sculping-chisel

A tool used to sculp the rock.

Beetle

A large, long-handled, wooden-mallet used in reducing blocks.

Sledge-hammer

A maul used to drive plugs.

Quarry-pole

Stick, or Quarry-pole--a tall mast which supports the system of cables. Usually set on the dump, since refuse is deposited at its base.

Quarry

tTincluding quarry-hole, mill, machinery and yard.

Quarry-hold

Excavation for removing slate.

Pit

Quarry-hole.

Opening

Quarry-hole.

Dump

Refuse pile of waste slate.

Yard

Storage space for finished stock.

Banks

Edges of quarry covered with top-soil.

Vein

Directional deposit of slate. (Not Geological term).

Beds

Beds, or Bedding--distinct layers of slate rock.

Slant

Dip of rock-face.

Free-side

Exposed lateral side of rock.

Free-end

Exposed frontal side of rock.

Joint

Parallel systems of cracks, or fractures existing in rock.

Butt-joint

Butt-joint, or Butt--a joint at base of dip, a bottom strike-joint.

Head-joint

A top joint, a strike-joint.

Side-joint

A dip-joint, or diagonal-joint.

Bottom-joint

Bottom-joint, or Flat-joint--a horizontal-joint.

Freak

Slate of irregular color and texture, of some architectural value.

Flagging

Irregular pieces of slate-rock of regular thickness, one inch or over.


Slate

Slate (Roofing slate)--rectangular pieces of slate rock of regular size and thickness (3/16" - 1").

Roofing Slate

Roofing Slate--same as "Slate."

School Slates

Rectangular pieces of slate rock of regular sizes and thicknesses, which have been milled, and are used as tablets to be marked with chalk.

Grain

Secondary direction of splitting, usually at right angles to the cleave of the rock.

Cleave

Cleave, or Cleavage--structure of the rock which permits splitting it into thin sheets.

Flint

Quartz veins in slate rock which render it worthless.

Clip

False cleavage.

Quarry-sap

Moisture in the rock which permits easier splitting.

Pit-water

Water in the pit from seepage.

Stripping

Removing top-soil to reach the rock-surface.

Taking off Top

Stripping.

Top

Over-burden of soil on rock surface.

Quarrying

Removing suitable slate.

Mill-stock

Large slabs of quarried rock suitable for milling.


Pest

Rock with closely spaced joints, unsuitable for quarrying, a waste rock.

Caffar

The "boss"; (rarely used today).

Boss

One who owns, or runs the quarry.

Yardman

One who handles slates, stacks them, or piles them. Unskilled.

Slater, or Roofer

One who lays slate roofs. Not a quarryman.

Sawer

One who saws slate; runs the saws. Sawyer

Quarryman

Anyone working in the quarry.

Pit-Boss

Another name for the "rock-man."

Shanty

A small building housing the splitter and trimmer, and the trimming machine. It has racks to hold slates made by the men.

Splitting-shanty

See "Shanty".

Motion-shanty

A small building for the motion-boy.

Mill

A building where slate is made, or milled. Often one mill takes the place of many shanties.

Engine-house

A building containing hoisting machinery, and sometimes an air-compressor.

Shipping Sheds

Storage houses for slate.

Cableways

The system of cable running from the stick, or quarry pole, to the banks, on which the carriers run.

Carriers

The carriages which run on the cableways, and hold the hoisting rope. Used to raise blocks and the refuse box.

Refuse Box

A scoop-shaped metal box to hoist rubbish from the pit, and carry it to the dump.

Tramway

A system of cables arranged to support carrier baskets. Used to transport slate from the mill to the railroad. (One instance. Now out of use).

Derrick-hoist

A boom type hoist not commonly used in this region since the advent of the cableways.

Hoisting-engine

Engine which operates the hoisting drum.

Hoisting-drum

The drum on which the cable winds and unwinds; the hoisting cable.

Saddle

The iron casting on top of the quarry stick through which the cable runs.

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