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Category Archives: History
John Steinbeck and Graniterock
California’s Salinas Valley is famous as the “Salad Bowl of the Nation” and also as the birthplace of John Steinbeck, who was born in Salinas in 1902. He spent his childhood and adolescence there, and as a teenager took on a variety of summer jobs. One of these was with Graniterock, where he worked as Read more
Graniterock Celebrates 113 Years of Business With New Children’s Book
On February 14, Graniterock will celebrate its 113th birthday, and this year’s celebration is highlighted by the publication of a new children’s picture book, Engine Number Ten, A Nearly True Tale Told by Rose Ann Woolpert. Kick-off events are being held at the Corporate Office in Watsonville on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and Read more
Family Ties That Bind
This interview with Graniterock Transportation Division Operations Manager Denny Mahler was published by the Hollister Free Lance in 2001. Family Ties That Bind, by Linda Lee King In 1972, Denny Mahler followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and two older brothers and went to work at the Wilson Quarry in Aromas. Since the Read more
100 Years Ago at Granite Rock Company
100 years ago, in 1912, at what was then known as the Logan Quarry (now A.R. Wilson Quarry), horse-drawn carts were replaced with a new Porter 0-4-0 steam locomotive. Granite Rock Company Engine Number One was used to haul carloads of broken rock from the quarry face to the crusher. The quarry face was 100 Read more
Betty Clay Recalls Her Career at Central Supply Company and Graniterock
Betty Clay shared her memories with Rose Ann Woolpert in April, 2012. In the early 1920s, the Gross family migrated west from Missouri to the state of Washington. Betty was born there in 1928, but her parents soon moved on to settle in California. Betty was a student for awhile in a one room school Read more
John Green, Granite Rock Company 1953-1985, Logan Quarry Superintendent 1972-1985 – Part Three
In a recent interview, John Green spoke at length about his time with Granite Rock Company, where he worked first as a “sample boy” at Logan Quarry and eventually worked his way up to Quarry Superintendent. He told stories which include many of the people he worked with over the years, such as Paul Mahler, Read more
John Green, Granite Rock Company 1953-1985, Logan Quarry Superintendent 1972-1985 – Part Two
In a recent interview, John Green spoke at length about his time with Granite Rock Company, where he worked first as a “sample boy” at Logan Quarry and eventually worked his way up to Quarry Superintendent. He told stories which include many of the people he worked with over the years, such as Paul Mahler, Read more
John Green, Granite Rock Company 1953-1985, Logan Quarry Superintendent 1972-1985
In a recent interview, John Green spoke at length about his time with Granite Rock Company, where he worked first as a “sample boy” at Logan Quarry and eventually worked his way up to Quarry Superintendent. He told stories which include many of the people he worked with over the years, such as Paul Mahler, Read more
Bill Van Sandt – the Story of His Career With Graniterock – Part 2
Bill Van Sandt’s career at Graniterock spanned nearly 50 years of the Company’s history. In a 2008 interview, Bill recalled his experiences as a driver in Santa Cruz during the 1950’s and later as manager of the Santa Cruz Branch of Graniterock. This is the second of a two part story of his career, Read more
Bill Van Sandt – the Story of His Career With Graniterock
Bill Van Sandt’s time at Graniterock spanned nearly 50 years of the Company’s history. In a 2008 interview, Bill recalled his experiences as a driver in Santa Cruz during the 1950’s and later as manager of the Santa Cruz Branch of Graniterock. This is the first of a two part story of his career, and Read more
