Granite Quarry at Ellicott’s Patapsco Mills 1815

Benjamin Brown wrote that he leased the early quarry at Ellicott's mills and his announcement/advertisement was picked up by a London weekly! The granite was used to build the Cathedral and other buildings in Baltimore, particularly in "Columns or Pilasters of any dimensions, Basement Stories or Fronts of Houses, door or window Cases and Cills."

Ellicott quarry granite for Baltimore Cathedral

Gray granite from 'Ellicott and Company' quarry was taken by large wagons with "nine yolk of oxen" on the Frederick road to Baltimore to build the first Cathedral in the new nation.  Designed by famed architect Benjamin Latrobe (the US Capitol), started in 1806-1812, War of 1812, 1817-1821.  Now the Cathedral is called the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a co-cathedral was completed in 1959.

Quarries near Ellicott City

The Catholic Cathedral and many homes and business in early Ellicott's mills were built with Ellicott City granite from nearby quarries along the Patapsco River.  The following excerpts describe the slight difference of the rock found on either side of the river and the quarries in 1811, 1834, 1898 and 1910.