Joseph Bodwell and Bodwell Granite

By Charlie Bodwell

The histories of the Bodwell Granite Company and the Hallowell Granite Works reveal a story of ambition, innovation, and the enduring legacy of Maine's granite industry. These companies not only shaped their local economies but also left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of the United States.

Bodwell Granite Company: The Backbone of American Infrastructure

Established in the 1840s on Vinalhaven Island, the Bodwell Granite Company quickly became synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship and monumental projects. By 1826, the quality of Vinalhaven’s granite was recognized, sparking a 100-year boom that transformed the island into one of Maine’s largest quarrying centers. Granite from Vinalhaven found its way into some of the most iconic structures in America, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Washington Monument, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

At its height, the Bodwell Granite Company employed over 1,500 workers—immigrants from New England, Scandinavia, and the British Isles—who quarried, cut, and shaped granite for projects across the country. The company's operations extended beyond federal contracts, supplying stone for post offices, railroad stations, bridges, and even paving blocks that lined the streets of cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

One of the company’s most remarkable undertakings was the creation of eight monumental columns for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. Carved from flawless pinkish-gray granite, these 54-foot columns required the world’s largest lathe and extraordinary engineering ingenuity to extract, shape, and transport them. Although the granite industry on Vinalhaven waned with the rise of steel and concrete construction, the legacy of Bodwell granite endures in the landmarks it helped build.

Hallowell Granite Works: A Strategic Rebirth

While the Bodwell Granite Company dominated Vinalhaven, J.R. Bodwell extended his influence to the mainland by taking over the struggling Hallowell Granite Company in 1865. Located in central Maine, the Hallowell quarries had already provided stone for notable structures like the Maine State Capitol. However, under Bodwell’s leadership, the renamed Hallowell Granite Works underwent a dramatic transformation.

Bodwell invested heavily in infrastructure, modernizing the quarrying process with state-of-the-art derricks and transportation equipment. He also established offices in major cities, including Boston, Chicago, and New York, to compete in high-demand markets. The company's efficient operations and reliable schooners ensured that Hallowell granite could reach distant construction sites economically.

Through strategic leadership, Bodwell expanded Hallowell’s portfolio to include prominent projects like the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Philadelphia and the Chicago Board of Trade Building. While Hallowell Granite Works remained separate from the Bodwell Granite Company, the two ventures symbolized Bodwell’s unparalleled ability to adapt to and shape the demands of the 19th-century construction industry.

Shared Legacy and Decline

The rise of structural steel and reinforced concrete in the early 20th century signaled the decline of the granite industry. By 1918, major quarrying operations on Vinalhaven ceased, although paving block production lingered until the late 1930s. Similarly, the Hallowell Granite Works eventually closed as demand for traditional stone construction waned.

Despite their decline, the contributions of these companies live on. From the eagles adorning granite post offices to the towering columns of cathedrals, the stones from Bodwell and Hallowell stand as enduring monuments to human ingenuity and the industrious spirit of Maine’s granite workers.

More images and information on the Bodwell granite works can be found at https://www.bodwellgranite.com/

Also worth reading, if you have a subscription: https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/09/arts/art-architecture-monuments-of-stone-testaments-to-an-island.html

Contact: charlie@bodwellfamily.org