Ancient Family Quarry Photos

Quarry workers, dated 1877. Quarry was located at Leete's Island, CT, and was owned and run by my great-great grandfather, John Beattie, my mother's great grandfather on her father's side. I have an obituary of his brother that died a few years after John, saying they trace their lineage back to 12th century Scotland. My friend Nigel that lives in Edinburgh says there is a Beattie Castlle there, lol.

In much worse condition, but about 20 years younger, this is a photo of eagles and other decorative motifs being sculpted at the quarry. My mother's grandfather on her mother's side was a sculptor. He's at the far right, Andrea De Matteo. He came from a long line of artists and opera singers of Italian descent. He carved his own headstone and those of his three wives—he was widowed twice and had a child out of wedlock as well. Such family drama! His daughter, my grandmother, second marriage was to the grandson of the quarry owner, so I'm related to a quarry artisan and the quarry owner. Between all of the marriages and children, legal and illegitimate, there was a 48 YEAR court battle for Beattie's estate, at which time there was virtually nothing left.

These eagles, I believe, ended up in Boston's South Street train station. He also worked on sculptures for Grand Central Station in New York and several other turn-of-the century large-scale constructions.

No date on this photo, but I'm guessing it's the mid 1890s. My great-grandfather the artist is on the lower right, sitting, with the goatee. His last wife, Concetta, was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and told my then 5-year old mother that a black cloud would hang over her her entire life! Nice woman... My mother believed her too, 'til her dying days. Probably where I get my "waiting for the other shoe to drop" mentality.