Granite mining in San Diego has been ungoing since the late 1800’s. Granite was used for dam construction as well as for paving and construction of buildings.
In Escondido, John Stridsburg began quarrying black granite in the Escondido area in 1923. Harmony Grove, Escondido, is particularly famous for its large deposits of black granite. Currently, Valley Granite Company and Continental Granite Company are operating out of this area.
In 1942, Emil George Johnson established National Quarries in the Escondido area. He enjoyed much success at this quarry, due in part to the skills he brought with him from Norway. Like Emil Johnson many of the stonecutters in San Diego County were of European origin. However, as the wheels of progress turned and technology spiraled upward, power-driven drills, black powder, wire saws, dynamite, and diamond saws soon began to lessen the demand for skilled chisel work. Carefully placed amounts of black powder could blast apart huge chunks of stone which would then be cut into slabs by the wire saw.
Two granite quarries were located in Harmony Grove. The locations are shown on the map below by the ‘ax and pick’ symbol on the right side of the map.
To learn more about the history of Granite mining in Harmony Grove, read the articles below:
History of Granite Mining in San Diego
Granite Quarries in Escondido
