Late in the last century while researching the M&B, I came across a reference in a history of Meriwether County to a quarry located on Brown's Farm near Odessadale. It seems that the granite from this quarry was used in the construction of the jetties at Mayport, FL, at the mouth of the St. Johns River. The book noted that this rock was shipped out over the M&B. Thus far I have not been able to locate a quarry or abandoned roadbed that would fit this description, nor does such a spur show up on the M&B Valuation Maps.

However, thanks to a tip from a geologist friend who mentioned that Meriwether County was using an old quarry near Harris City as a solid waste dispoal site I may have located a line that might have possibly served such a quarry. On a USGS Quad Sheet dated 01 Jul 1985 (Sorry, I don't have the quadrangle name) an old railroad grade is shown crossing the M&B grade about two miles west of Harris City, and extending south to Hunters Crossroad. I plan to visit the UGa science library to see if this line is more defined on the 1937 or 1942 aerial photography in their collection, but in the meantime, does anyone have further information on this grade?

-- Gary Bechdol (gary.bechdol@rwhitehead.com), December 12, 2001

Answers

Gary -

While I know nothing about the quarry, I will offer the comment that unless the quarry spur was owned by the railroad and not by the quarry, it might not appear on the valuation maps. Also, it may have been taken up by the time the val maps were made (circa 1916).

Not much help, here.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), December 14, 2001.

Gary:

Hello. I am baffled over the granite quarry also. I would have to concur with Bob that the 1915 M&B valuation maps show no spur line near Odessadale nor Harris City. However, after my interview with one Mr Curry who resides in Odessadale, his house sits adjacent to the old M&B roadbed and has some of the original granite that came from that quarry. He could not tell me about the logisitics. However, another visit to Odessadale may shed some light on this subject.

-- Mark Mosely (MOSEGSF@aol.com), December 14, 2001.

Gary;

Please see my EMAIL that I sent you earlier. We did find a spur from the M&B mainline that went to a granite quarry at the Brown's residence near Harris City in eastern Meriwhether County. We found a piece of 56# rail that was embedded in the woods near the site.

-- Mark Mosely (mosegsf@cox.net), July 03, 2002.