Merrill Slate Quarry workers, Brownville, ca. 1868

Contributed by Maine Historic Preservation Commission

Description

The stereo view photograph shows workers in the Merrill Slate Quarry in Brownville. Notice that a number of the workers are African-American.

After the Civil War, Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, head of the new Freedmen's Bureau, worked with Adams Merrill, owner of the quarry, to place about 34 families of former slaves in Brownville and Williamsburg to work in the quarry.

Merrill had requested families. The children attended local schools and the men worked in the quarry. A number of former slaves died of pneumonia and other diseases sometime after they arrived about 1868. Gradually others left the area as well, and by 1880, all the families of former slaves had left Brownville.

View/Add Comments


About This Item

  • Title: Merrill Slate Quarry workers, Brownville, ca. 1868
  • Creation Date: circa 1868
  • Subject Date: circa 1868
  • Location: Brownville, Piscataquis County, ME
  • Media: Stereograph
  • Local Code: MHPC 1507
  • Object Type: Image

Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings


For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historic Preservation Commission
55 Capitol Street, 65 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0065
(207) 287-2132
Website

Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.

How to cite content on this site


Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.