Stockton Island Brownstone Quarry Dock
Gallery
img
Stockton Island Brownstone Quarry Dock Site Plan
img
Shoes located on site
img
An archaeologist surveys the dock ruins of Stockton Island
img
Artist's rendition of the Ashland Brownstone Quarry on Stockton Island from the 1890's
img
An archaeologist investigates an axe head found on the site
img
Cart axil and leaf spring
 
Details
Attraction
Description
Quarrying operations took place on Stockton Island, or Presque Isle, in 1871, and then again from 1886 until the fall of the brownstone industry in 1897. The Ashland Brownstone Company operated the main quarry on the island from the spring of 1886 through the end of 1897. The remains of the quarry are located on the southwest side of the Stockton Island, along the lakeshore. The earliest quarrying operations on Presque Isle took place in what is today known as Quarry Bay, in 1871. Quarrying operations only continued in Quarry Bay until 1872, when the Ontonagon Breakwater repairs were completed. It was not until 1886 that brownstone quarrying took place on the island once again with the creation of the Ashland Brownstone Company. Following this period of significant boom for the Ashland Brownstone Company, production rates began to fall off with the start of the 1893 season. As with other brownstone quarries in the region, the popularity of brownstone, and therefore its demand from Presque Isle was much lower following the 1893 economic downturn and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Despite this downturn, the Ashland Brownstone Company continued to operate their Presque Isle quarry until 1897, producing over 200,000 cubic feet of stone each year; notably the most successful of the Apostle Island’s brownstone quarries following the economic crash. In 1897 though, the company could not maintain operating costs and the quarry suspended operation at the close of the season. Though the Presque Isle quarry was operated for the shortest number of years of any of the Apostle Island’s quarries, the Ashland Brownstone Company quarry had some of the highest production rates in the region, and produced stone for a number of notable buildings throughout the Midwest. A sample of those buildings include the Telephone Building and the Joseph L. Hudson Company Department Store in 1891, and the Schmidt Block in 1894 in Detroit, and the Duluth Breakwall in 1895. ~Site Description: The remains of the Stockton Island Quarry Dock extend into Lake Superior from the southern side of Stockton Island in 7 to 23 feet of water and consists of six crib structures. The main crib measures 287.1 feet long and consists of two spokes extending to the southwest from shore, with a 50.0-foot wide berth between the two spokes, and one cross-crib, connecting the two spokes. The lakeside spoke extends the full length of the crib and measures 18.5 feet in width, while the shore side spoke measures only 150.5 feet in length and only 18.0 feet in width. The interior of the crib consists of medium to large sized rocks. Cut stones are extant among the uncut rocks throughout the crib, along with numerous artifacts were located throughout the crib structure, including an iron axe head, found at 161.1 feet along the baseline of the lakeside spoke of the crib. Additionally, 57.6 feet, on a 60-degree heading, from the southeastern corner of the lakeside spoke of the crib, are the remains of one intact leather boot, and two leather soles. Although exact dating could not be concluded, the style of these boots and their location near other artifacts signify that these are likely associated with the quarry and dock structure. Additionally, the remains of a wagon or cart axle and leaf spike remain extant 55.9 feet to the southeastern edge of the lakeside spoke, half buried in the sand, sitting upright. The leaf spike measures 5.5 feet in diameter, and the axle shaft extends 4.5 feet from where it is attached to the lead spike. Additional cribbing extends 72.5 feet toward shore at the southwestern end of the inshore spoke, beginning at 18.0 feet along the baseline and extending to the end of the spoke, and measures 18.0 feet wide. Just to the west of this cribbing, six additional cut stones remain. Other artifacts remain to the west of these stone blocks as well, including a short segment of narrow gauge rail track and a set of narrow gauge wheels from a cart. The rest of the crib is composed of five separate crib structures, three extending from the edge of a large point, and the other two wing cribs extending diagonally between these. The main crib extending from shore connects the main crib to the island, and at the time of the survey, stood one to two timbers in height in 1 to 7 feet of water. The crib extends 61.2 feet in length, stretching from shore and measures 21.5 feet wide. The eastern crib is slightly smaller, extending only 16.0 feet from shore, and measures 14.0 feet in width. On either side of this main cribbing, two additional cribs, standing one timber in height each, extend from shore. The western crib extends 24.0 feet from shore and is 15.5 feet in width, remaining in 1 to 2 feet of water. The two wing cribs extend in front of the two short cribs that extend from shore, one on either side of the main crib running perpendicular to shore. The western wing crib measures 32.5 feet in length and 15.5 feet wide. The eastern wing crib has similar measurements, running 31.0 feet in length, and measuring 16.0 feet wide. Additional stone splitting wedges were found scattered throughout this area. Though it is not known why there are so many small cribs in this location, it is possible these cribs made up the support structure for a wide storage dock when the quarry was in operation. A historic painting from the time of the quarry’s operation depicts a large, flat, open space on which cut stones and tools were stored before being loaded onto awaiting ships. Various artifacts, associated with a derrick and other loading machinery, were located to the east of the eastern wing crib. These include a piece of derrick machinery consisting of a box, and two iron straps with bolts still attached. Other small iron machinery parts were found to be scattered throughout this area as well.
Attraction
Location
Body of Water: Lake Superior
Trail Name: Lake Superior
Year Built: 1886
Nearest City: Bayfield
County: Ashland
Zip Code: 54806
Latitude: N 46°54.56700'
Longitude: W -090°37.49000'
Attraction
Features
Open to public?: Yes
Mooring buoy?: No
Mooring buoy in place?: No
Snorkelable?: No
Dive guide?: No
Trails sign?: No
National Register?: No
 
Map
 
Nearby
Attractions (9)
Apostle Islands Cruise Service
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Basswood Island Quarry Dock
Bayfield Commercial Fishermens' Memorial
Bayfield Heritage Center
Bayfield Historic Waterfront Maritime Trails Maker
Bayfield Maritime Museum
Hermit Island Brownstone Quarry Dock
Stockton Island Brownstone Quarry Dock
Shipwrecks (12)
Charlotte (1912)
Finn McCool (1926)
Francis R. Anderson (1885)
Idlewild (?)
Josephine Addison (1919)
Lua (1905)
Marquette (1881)
Moonlight (1874)
Mystic (?)
Ontario (1891)
View 2 more
Shipwrecks (12)
Charlotte (1912)
Finn McCool (1926)
Francis R. Anderson (1885)
Idlewild (?)
Josephine Addison (1919)
Lua (1905)
Marquette (1881)
Moonlight (1874)
Mystic (?)
Ontario (1891)
Phantom (?)
Tourist (1888)
View fewer
© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society