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| Born in Scotland, John Booth came to New York City in 1870 with his older brother William (John was born in 1839). They established Booth Brothers that same year. In 1889, Hurricane Island Granite mergen with Booth Brothers, bringing together quarries in Connecticut and Maine. William Booth of New London was president and the company headquarters were in New York City, with the Maine office in Rockland.
The company did will for a number of years after the merger, receiving contracts to supply at least part of the granite for buildings in Boston, New York, and Chicago. In 1910 the management of the quarry operations on Hurricane Island changed. The Hurricane Isle Quarries Company was organized and took over the properties, business, and leases of Booth Brothers & Hurricane Island Granite Company. Shortly thereafter, changing architectural styles and the introduction of new building materials, especially concrete, plus the costs of cutting and shipping granite, let to the demise of the granite industry.
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Born in Scotland, John Booth came to New York City in 1870 with his older brother William (John was born in 1839). They established Booth Brothers that same year. In 1889, Hurricane Island Granite mergen with Booth Brothers, bringing together quarries in Connecticut and Maine. William Booth of New London was president and the company headquarters were in New York City, with the Maine office in Rockland. In 1888, Booth Brothers were employing 40 men.
The company did will for a number of years after the merger, receiving contracts to supply at least part of the granite for buildings in Boston, New York, and Chicago. In the summer of 1891 there was plenty of work and the Booth Bros. were paying $2.00 a day. By October of that year, Booth Bros. were paying out $2000 a month in salaries. George Smith, emplying 28 cutters, was manufacturing 45,000 paving blocks per month for sale to Booth Brothers. But by December the paving business was at a standstill and both Booth Brothers and George Smith discharged all their help.
In 1910 the management of the quarry operations on Hurricane Island changed. The Hurricane Isle Quarries Company was organized and took over the properties, business, and leases of Booth Brothers & Hurricane Island Granite Company. Shortly thereafter, changing architectural styles and the introduction of new building materials, especially concrete, plus the costs of cutting and shipping granite, let to the demise of the granite industry.
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