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Badger Brothers continued their business here until 1881 when their shop on Willard Street was built. Granite Polishing machinery was installed and an extensive business was conducted here for a number of years.
The ancient Wigwam Quarry was also conducted by them during the latter period.
View about 30 years ago [c.1900] of the Wigwam Quarry and sheds. I have been told that one of Columns for the Portico of Adams Temple was taken from this quarry.
Granite Ball four feet in diameter made and polished by Mr. Thomas Smith at his mill on Water Street. This ball was exhibited at the Worlds Fair held at Chicago in 1893.
Map of West Quincy Village and the Quarry land in 1876. The tract within the confines of the Furnace land along these streets above mentioned was sold off by Mr. James Hall, [Copeland?], Elisha Crane and others; and during the succeeding years a large number of dwellings were erected as homes for the workers in the quarries or ledges as they were called at that time.
With the development of the granite industry it became necessary for easier access to the Furnace Land. Therefore in the year 1835 the County Commissioners laid out the present Willard Street from the Braintree line through West Quincy to the Milton line and continued it through to the Adams Street of today. The road was completed in 1839 and in 1840 received the name of Willard Street and was accepted by the town. In 1837 the town laid out and accepted Copeland Street from Granite Street to Willard Street. In 1838-9 Cross Street was laid out and accepted. Cemetery Street was laid out in 1843 from Copeland to Willard Street. By a vote of the City Council November 13, 1889 the name of this street was changed to Crescent Street. Furnace Ave was accepted by the town in 1868.
The early workers of the ledges were men from New Hampshire, who came here upon the solicitation of Mr. Ezra Badger, who also came from that state and was foreman in the ancient Bunker Hill Quarry, [for the] quarrying of stone for the Bunker Hill Monument and later foreman in the Wigwam Quarry operated by Solomon Willard.
Soon after the establishing of the granite industry a number of Irish emigrants came here and settled, and in the year 1841 a parcel of land on the Cemetery Street of those days was purchased and a church erected by these people who were of Catholic faith. This church [St.Mary’s] was dedicated the 18 September 1842, and in which services were held until Christmas 1901 when the basement of the present church edifice was ready for occupancy. The old church was enlarged in the year 1908-9. This photo was taken in 1893 showing the edifice at that time.
