Stone workers and stonemasons have created buildings, monuments, roads, and many othe types of structures since before the existence of civilization. Examples of stone work and stonemasonry can be found world wide. It utilizes a number of different types of stone and methods for creating foundations, walls, and covernings on buildings. Modern stonemasons learn their craft by serving an apprenticeship and they learn how to measure, cut, and install stone materials by using both hand tools and pneumatic power tools. The Minnesota State Captiol building was largely built by stone workers who used steam powered saws and polishing machines, and hand tools. Stone finishers were a specialized group of stone workers who precisely trimmed blocks of stone with an adz or a hammer and chisel. They could also be found carving details into stone statuary.
There are numerous photographs on this website that show stonemasons, stone materials, and the tools that were used in the Capitol construction. For other information about stonemasonry and stonework see:
Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers, Local 1 of Minnesota and North Dakota at: http://www.bac1mn-nd.org/
Wikipedia "Stonemsonry," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonemasonry
Stone Quarries and Beyond at: http://quarriesandbeyond.org/stone_workers_union/stone_workers_union-res...
Hans Martinson was born in Norway in 1881 and came over with his family in 1883. Hans claims to be a carpenter in the 1910 Census but his WWI Draft Registration lists him as a marble worker. He claimed to be a "sawyer" in the 1901 City Directory.
Nicholas Martinson, faher of Hans Martinson, lived here and also worked on the Capitol.
In 1899 James Kane lived at 400 Goodrich and continued to work for Butler-Ryan for several years after. He was born in Minnesota in 1875 to Irish parents.
August Green was born in Sweden in 1868 and came to America in 1886.
I219 14th St. would have been about here.
William J. Gailey was born in Pennsylvania in 1861. He worked on the Capitol as a "finisher" though he also worked as a teamster.
Stone cutters William Hamilton and Peter Diamond also lived at this address along with Phelix Arthur who was killed working in the stone cutting shed May 4,1898.
James M. King was a friend of fellow Capitol stone cutter William Benson and vouched for him when he was Naturalized in 1900.Stone cutters William Hamilton and Peter Diamond also lived at this address along with Phelix Arthur who was killed working in the stone cutting shed May 4,1898.
French Canadian stone cutter Charles Bourgoin was born in Canada in 1835 and came to St. Paul with his family in 1879. It was reported in the St. Paul Globe (13 Sept. 1901) that his Stone Cutter Union dues were reduced fronm $10 to $5 because of his age. He would have been 66 at that time.
Stone cutter Albert Bourgeault lived here with his father Joseph who supervised the stone cutting for Butler-Ryan. Albert's parents had emigrated from Canada in 1880 and he was born in Minnesota in 1883. By 1901, after the superstructure was completed, the father and sons were listed in the City Directory as working for Joseph Bourgeault and Sons. The family had moved back to Canada by 1906.
