Section 4: Quarry Stone

Aquia Freestone

From the 1660’s until the 1970’s, thousands of tons of Stafford freestone were cut and shipped to destinations along the Atlantic seaboard for building construction, most notably the U.S. Capitol, old Treasury Building, White House, and U.S. Patent Office, in Washington D.C.

“Aquia freestone” is arkose sandstone that was mined from the ridges on both sides of Aquia Creek. Though relatively soft when first cut, once exposed to the air the stone slowly hardens and becomes quite durable. The best known of these quarries was Brent's Island, now commonly known as Government Island. Stafford's five other major commercial quarries were Mt. Pleasant, Rock Rimmon, and Gibson's quarries on the north side of Aquia Creek and Robertson's and Towson's quarries” near Garrisonville.

Prior to the Civil War, quarrying was often accomplished by slaves without stone cutting machinery. This was heavy and difficult work, the men constantly at risk of being crushed by the massive blocks or cut or blinded by flying stone chips. Some of the larger quarries may have built booms at their landings to transfer the stone from the shore to the barges.

During the nearly two centuries of heavy quarrying in this area, these slopes would have been denuded of trees and most vegetation. New freestone outcroppings near the top of the ridge were cleared of their overburden, the dirt being thrown down the hill. Blocks of stone cut from the hillsides were dragged, pushed, and rolled down the slopes to the creek, carrying with them soil and gravel from above. Erosion caused by rains washed yet more soil down to the creek where it gradually formed the marsh that nearly fills the creek today. Thus, when ocean-going sailing vessels were hauling tobacco, iron, and store goods and barges were picking up their loads of stone, the creek looked very different from today.