b'HISTORIC CONSTRUCTION Byer describes a marble quarry at Tatlock, Ontario,north of Kingston, where great metalsawbladesstillprotrudefromthe rock,formerlyusedwithsteamtocut through enormous blocks that were then shipped elsewhere to be cut and finished.At the Stone Distillery, the size of the stone suggests it would probably have been relativelythin-beddeddolomiticstone, anditwouldhavecomenotfromthe Lake Ontario end of Kingston, but on the north or northeast end, Byer adds. Several quarries on the mainland and nearby Wolfe Islandarepossiblecandidates,including the large abandoned Pittsburgh Quarry. Stone Distillery before parking lot installationCATASTROPHIC FIREOnly eight years after completion, in 1869, the clever architecturalNonetheless, the main building fortunately survived. The corbels planning and all that good-quality stone were put to a severe testsupportingthebeamsensuredthatthetimberswouldhave when a benzene explosion in the Stone Distillerys fermentingcollapsed without disturbing the main structure. Also, the grain cellarignitedacatastrophicfire.HistorianSallyGibson,whofrom the elevators collapsed down and preserved some of the carried out extensive research on the entire site, writes that themachinery, says Pruss.conflagration was visible for miles into the countryside, with distant Weston Road being lit better by the distillery fire than theGibsonsaccountestimatesthatrebuildingcostbetween usual gas streetlights. $110,000 and $120,000. But although there was some replacement of material and a lot of modification to the building, in large Despite the best efforts of firefighters, flames reaching as highpart the original stone was maintained. Thus, 160 years after its as 100 feet into the air consumed the wooden support beamsconstruction, the Stone Distillery still as a dignified and stands andtoppledthefoot-wideironpillarsholdingupthefloors.elegant monument to Toronto history. Waterford provides premium natural stone Weigh It and sands, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, premium washed and unwashed limestone Pile It products, concrete products and ready-mix Monitor It concrete for the building trade industry.Waterford Sand & GravelVinemount QuarriesDunnville Rock ProductsProduction Management Law Crushed StoneDowntime Reporting Norfolk AggregatesEfficiency Analysis Inter County ConcreteInventory Control 519-752-1300|70 Ewart Avenue, BrantfordON1-877-428-3573 www.waterfordgroup.caequipfix@equipfix.ca | www.scalelink.com18 AVENUESWINTER 2021'