The story of cobblestone pavers in America began with a most unremarkable, ordinary purpose, but resulted in an extraordinary legacy of style and substance that lasts to this day. ACROSS THE OCEAN During the 17th and 18th centuries, European wooden ships travelling to America rode high in the water and required material-known as ballast-to weigh them down and stabilize them. …
The Evolution of European Cobblestone
When you think of European cobblestone, you might imagine cityscapes with roads and buildings unchanged through the centuries. While this is often the case, it’s also true that European cobblestones have evolved in both design and usage ever since the Roman Empire. From Rome to Revolution The earliest cobbles sourced by the Romans reflected the natural diversity of the local …
Using Reclaimed Stone for Your Patio or Walkway
When most people think of antique stone, they think of reclaimed cobblestones that were used in streets, as well as reclaimed curbing laid flat for borders. However, by the way these products are naturally formed, they are not ideal-as they can be uneven, and nobody wants a wobbly chair or table on their outdoor living space. There are many other …
All (Cobbled) Roads Lead to Rome: Origins of Antique Cobblestones
When you are walking the streets of Boston or NYC and admiring the antique cobblestone pavers, take a moment and thank the Roman Empire for helping make it happen. Although we often think of European cobblestone alleyways, the origins of antique cobblestone roads go back much further. Building an Empire While cobblestones can be dated back as far as 5000 …
A Once in a Lifetime Harvest: The North Washington Street Bridge (Boston)
At Stone Farm, we are constantly seeking out potential reclamations that will yield antique stone building products. We were beyond excited, when we were approached with the North Washington Street Bridge (also known as the Charlestown Bridge) in Boston. A hard product to find, this bridge has thousands of stone wall blocks that where originally quarried beginning in the late …
