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Quincy Quarries Reservation

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Coordinates: 42°14′35″N 71°2′4″W / 42.24306°N 71.03444°W / 42.24306; -71.03444
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Quincy Quarries Reservation
View across earth-filled quarry
Map showing the location of Quincy Quarries Reservation
Map showing the location of Quincy Quarries Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
Map showing the location of Quincy Quarries Reservation
Map showing the location of Quincy Quarries Reservation
Quincy Quarries Reservation (the United States)
LocationQuincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°14′35″N 71°2′4″W / 42.24306°N 71.03444°W / 42.24306; -71.03444
Area22 acres (8.9 ha)
Established1985
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteQuincy Quarries

The Quincy Quarries is a 22-acre (8.9 ha) public recreation area in Quincy, Massachusetts, commemorating the site of the Granite Railway—often credited as being the first railroad in the United States.[1] The former quarries produced granite for over a century, leaving problematic excavations that ultimately were taken over and filled in to protect public safety. The reservation is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[2]

History

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In 1825, after an exhaustive search throughout New England, Solomon Willard selected the Quincy site as the source of stone for the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. After many delays and much obstruction, a charter was granted on March 4, 1826, for the construction of a railroad to help move the granite. The "Granite Railway" was designed and built by railway pioneer Gridley Bryant and began operations on October 7, 1826.[3] The granite from these quarries became famous throughout the nation, and stone cutting quickly became Quincy's principal economic activity.

Later use

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The last active quarry closed in 1963. After their abandonment, the open quarries filled with rainwater and ground water. The flooded quarries soon became a popular spot for cliff jumping. However, many people were injured—and killed—while diving into the quarries from great heights. This led the police and the city of Quincy to grapple with what to do with this abandoned space.[4]

During this period, the quarries were also discovered by rock climbers. In 1968, A Guide to Quincy Quarries by Willie Crowther and Tony Thompson, published by the MIT Outing Club, contained information about climbing in and around the quarries; a second edition was published in 1970.[5] Boston Rocks, a guidebook by Larry LaForge, was published by the MIT Outing Club in 1987; a second edition by Richard Doucette and Susan Ruff came out in 2003 with a copyright update in 2008.[6]

During the 1980s old telephone poles and trees were added to discourage cliff jumping. Unfortunately, these were quickly waterlogged and sank two feet underwater where they were not visible to the cliff jumpers above. The injury and fatality rate skyrocketed. Often, divers sent to look for missing cliff jumpers would unexpectedly find other bodies instead.[7]

The quarries, once drained of water, became a very popular canvas for graffiti artists.[8]

Quincy Quarries Reservation

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In 1985, Boston's Metropolitan District Commission purchased 22 acres, including Granite Railway Quarry, as the Quincy Quarries Reservation. A solution to the public safety problem was finally found with the massive Big Dig highway project in Boston. Dirt from the new highway tunnels was trucked in to fill the main quarries. This opened up new sections of rock to climbers, and the site was subsequently improved to encourage public use of the reservation.[9] The reservation is connected to the trail system of the Blue Hills Reservation and features hiking, rock climbing and views of the Boston skyline.[2]

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Scenes from the movies Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Invention of Lying (2009) were filmed in the Quincy Quarries.[10]

Geeks & Greeks (2016), a graphic novel about pranks at MIT and fraternity hazing, features a climactic sequence set at the Quincy Quarries in their water-filled days.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "The First Railroad in America: 1826-1926: A History of the Origin and Development of the Granite Railway at Quincy, Massachusetts". Thomas Crane Public Library. 1926. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Quincy Quarries". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Scholes, Robert E. (1968). "The Granite Railway and its Associated Enterprises". Thomas Crane Public Library. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  4. ^ White, Victoria (August 21, 1988). "Debate on over risks in quarries". New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ^ Crowther & Thompson (1970). A Guide to Quincy Quarries. MIT Outing Club. The preface indicates that there was an earlier guide written by Crowther in 1964.
  6. ^ Doucette & Ruff (2008). Boston Rocks. MIT Outing Club.
  7. ^ Goldberg, Carey (December 7, 1997). "In quarry's dark water, grim tales of danger and despair". New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  8. ^ "Quincy Quarries". Atlas Obscura.
  9. ^ Preer, Robert (October 18, 2001). "Into quarry's depths no more". The Boston Globe.
  10. ^ "Gone Baby Gone Filming Locations". IMDB. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  11. ^ Barbuto, Dana (December 1, 2016). "Quincy Quarries star in new graphic novel". The Patriot Ledger. Quincy, MA. Retrieved December 2, 2016.

See also

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Further reading

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