By Theresa Knapp 

One of the key findings in the Milford Comprehensive plan is the importance of the quarrying industry in the Town of Milford. 

The plan states, “By 1860, Milford pink granite was discovered…[it] has been used in prominent buildings such as the [steps of the] Lincoln Memorial, New York Penn Station, and the Boston Public Library.” 

As detailed in a recorded Quarry Walk with Milford Historical Commission member Anne Lamontagne in 2014, Milford pink granite can also be found in New York City at Union Station, Grand Central Station, the American Museum of Natural History, U.S.S. Maine National Monument in NYC’s Central Park, and the former New York City Penn Station (1910-1963). 

In Boston, Milford’s pink granite can also be found at South Station and the former Flour and Graine Exchange Building at 177 Milk Street.

The Boston and Albany Railroad Depot was built in 1909 of Milford pink granite. The building is located at 170 Central Street and is a business today. Photo source: Public domain bit.ly/BostonAndAlbanyRailroadDepotMilfordMA

Throughout Massachusetts, other buildings featuring Milford pink granite include the Bancroft Memorial Library and Town Hall in Hopedale (General William F. Draper brought immigrants to work at the Milford quarries and his Hopedale factory), and Worcester City Hall. And in Milford, the famous granite can be found several places including Memorial Hall, the Unitarian Universalist Church, and the Irish Round Tower at Saint Mary’s Cemetery. 

There is a 590-million-year-old piece of Milford pink granite on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, whose base is made of Milford pink granite as are the walkway walls at the south entrance of the museum. 

 “Milford pink granite” is light pink with black flecks, and can be found from Framingham to Woonsocket, RI. 

Milford pink granite is light pink with black flecks, and can be found from Framingham to Woonsocket, RI. Photo credit: Theresa Knapp

During the 2014 Quarry Walk, Lamontagne said the quarries were run by immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and Armenia; they were Catholic and Protestant, and worked together well. 

The video of the walk can be found at bit.ly/MilfordQuarryWalk2014, and more information is available at the Milford Historical Museum inside Memorial Hall every Thursday.