Two weeks ago I took a trip down to Adam Ross Cut Stone Company in Albany. They were the company that originally provided the school with all of the Indiana Limestone for the trim and window sills on Kellas, Sage, Slocum, and the Alumnae Chapel (the old gym). Adam Ross Cut Stone has also provided Emma Willard with most of the materials for all of our restoration projects and additions including the expansion of Kellas to create the new dining hall and the restoration of our iconic Sage Tower. At the company showroom and mill in Albany I was shown many examples of the different forms out grey stone takes.
The grey veneer on most of the buildings on the Emma Willard campus is made from Onondaga Limestone. This stone was chosen because it is a high density stone, meaning that it can bear heavy weight and is fairly weather resistant, making it perfect for a veneer that will stand the test of time. The grey walls on our buildings are a veneer, meaning that they are a small front wall built on to the supporting structural walls. All of the Onondaga limestone used on our buildings most likely came from the thin part of the vein of Onondaga that runs across southern New York. During my visit to the facility I also got to see the various machines that they use to process and cut the stone, some are over fifty years old! I was also given a lot of literature on the geology of the area as well as the history of Adam Ross Cut Stone Company. More information to come, but I have some reading to do!
Jess
The grey veneer on most of the buildings on the Emma Willard campus is made from Onondaga Limestone. This stone was chosen because it is a high density stone, meaning that it can bear heavy weight and is fairly weather resistant, making it perfect for a veneer that will stand the test of time. The grey walls on our buildings are a veneer, meaning that they are a small front wall built on to the supporting structural walls. All of the Onondaga limestone used on our buildings most likely came from the thin part of the vein of Onondaga that runs across southern New York. During my visit to the facility I also got to see the various machines that they use to process and cut the stone, some are over fifty years old! I was also given a lot of literature on the geology of the area as well as the history of Adam Ross Cut Stone Company. More information to come, but I have some reading to do!
Jess