Photograph
Photo of still in operation Fletcher Quarry in 1966. It is located on Oak Hill in the northeast corner of Westford, which is on the border to Chelmsford. Early advertising called their part of town West Chelmsford, as their granite type is Chelmsford Grey. According to the description, this was before saws. However, according to the Fletcher Granite Co.’s website, they developed a wire saw in 1948 for curb slab, and then developed a joint cutting saw for straight curb in 1965. The extraction process can vary, based on stone itself, but normally includes explosives and heavy machinery. At the Fletcher quarry, in-quarry sawing was often done as part of the extraction process since the 1940s, while high pressure water jets may also be used today.
The Fletcher Granite Co. was founded by Herbert Ellery Fletcher (1862-1956) as H.E. Fletcher & Co. According to Hodgman, operations began in 1880, but their website today states 1881, suggesting their incorporation took about a year. Into the early 1900s, most granite quarrying operations in Westford were on Snake Meadow Hill in what is today known as Graniteville. By the late 20th century, Fletcher Granite became the only active granite quarry in Westford.
The photo was donated by past Westford resident and WHS volunteer Marion Thompson (1927-2010) in 1998.
W.1998.84t