Forming Blocks

This was the stone cutters' area, where train cars brought large stones to be split and shaped. One splitter supplied three stone cutters, who formed the blocks into curbing, building stones, or paving blocks. Buildings, bridges, sewers, and streets across the country still use Kettle River sandstone. Although tools could be ordered from catalogues, many stone cutting tools were made onsite by blacksmiths. Stone cutters used a variety of chisels, hammers, and wooden mallets to shape the stones. The Kettle River Company promoted Kettle River stone pavements as durable and gritty, saying the grit kept horses' shoes from slipping and caused the wear to fall on the highest part of the block so the pavement wore evenly and became smoother with use. The company also claimed the stone was less resonant than granite and brick and therefore much less noisy than either, ranked well up to asphalt in that respect, was less dusty than any other pavement except creosote block, and was ideal for heavily traveled or grade streets.

Sandstone, Minnesota · United States