For most Lorain County natives, you see it everywhere. It’s in the sidewalks, the old buildings uptown Amherst, and occasionally outside of people’s homes. If you still don’t notice it after taking a stroll through any neighborhood in Amherst, you certainly can’t miss the massive sandstone grindstone with a plaque stating “Amherst – the sandstone center of the world.”
Sandstone, the natural rock formation which put Amherst on the map. Back in 1811, Jacob Shupe built a log cabin in what is now Amherst, Ohio and began cutting down timber and establishing quarries. Much of Amherst and South Amherst’s economic success during the 19th and 20th century was due to the large deposits of sandstone under the city. It was not until 1847 that quarrying became the largest employer in the area. Due to this economic boom, the population of Amherst grew from 552 in 1830 to 2,482 by 1870. In 1924 the Cleveland Quarries Company bought out much of the smaller competition and continued to own much of the quarries to this day.
Even though you may not have a connection to Amherst, it's possible you have a product of it in your home. By the 1950s the local sandstone was being used in lining steel furnaces, and the Cleveland Quarries Company provided three-fourths of the nations steel manufacturers with their sandstone.
Today, the locals of Amherst use the quarries in a completely different way. Over the years of inactive use, the quarries have filled with water and have provided many with a summer swimming location. Not only do locals use them for a summer fun, but the county uses them for training police officers in scuba diving. Being located so close to Lake Erie, the quarries make for the safe training ground.
Whether you are a police officer, a young child, or still around from working in the quarries, everyone knows that Amherst is where the world purchased their sandstone.
Erix Infante
Erix Infante
Sources:
https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/258
http://www.amhersthistoricalsociety.org/
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