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Summary
Bass Island Brownstone Company Quarry (Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation)
Bass Island, Ashland County
Spanning the era marked by the end of the Civil War until the beginning of the twentieth century, brownstone quarrying around Chequamegon Bay and on the Apostle Islands became one of the most important industries in the region. Brownstone was used to build massive stone buildings in Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, and Milwaukee. The stone quarries of Chequamegon Bay became an important source of this popular construction material in the late nineteenth century, transforming Ashland and Bayfield into thriving hinterland communities that supported the quarrying industry. Although many brownstone quarries developed on the Bayfield Peninsula, brownstone from the Apostle Island quarries was consistently rated among the most beautiful and pure of the brownstones in the country. The quarries’ close proximity to the waters of Lake Superior made transportation of the massive blocks relatively easy and inexpensive (Eckert 2000).
Although brownstone quarrying on the Apostle Islands was a booming industry, production varied as boom and bust economic cycles occurred. By 1893, the popularity of brownstone began a steady decline. The great economic downturn in that year made the construction of brownstone buildings too expensive for many builders, stylistic tastes changed and the use of structural iron and steel expanded. Despite this, quarrying operations on the islands were maintained until 1897 when the last island quarry, on Presque Isle - today’s Stockton Island - halted operations (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore 2004).
The Bass Island Brownstone Company’s quarry opened in 1868. The property was originally developed by Milwaukee industrialist, Alanson Sweet and partners, before changing hands and names many times over, and closing in 1893 following a downturn in the U.S. economy and a move by architects away from using brownstone in the construction of buildings. The site provides a unique opportunity to study quarrying operations and examine the industry’s link with maritime transportation. Piers and dock structures like those located adjacent to the Bass Island Brownstone Company’s quarry were a vital component of the brownstone industry. The docks were used to load large blocks of brownstone and to off-load supplies for the quarry’s operations.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event,Information Potential |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Industry,Archeology/Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Period of Significance | 1868-1893 |
| Architectural Style | |
| Architect | Sweet, Alanson |
| Resource Type | Site |
| Historic Use | Extractive Facility |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 0 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 1 |
| Contributing Structures | 2 |
| Contributing Objects | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Nov 20, 2015 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 10, 2016 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Address Restricted
78000075
Located in Town of La Pointe, Ashland County
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