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Love, Life, And A Rock Quarry
An uncommon tale
Rock Quarry, Michigan, is best known for the massive rock quarry at the edge of town. Most townfolk are satisfied that the town was named after the quarry. But Oldman Cardigan, the local historian — due to the fact that he is the oldest person in town — says Rock Quarry was named Rock Quarry long before there was a rock quarry. People don’t pay Oldman much heed.
Anyway, it seems that people eventually lost their desire for fresh rocks, and the quarry closed. It became nothing more than an enormous empty hole in the ground and sat that way for five years. The town council even considered changing the town’s name. Oldman was opposed. In no uncertain terms, he let the town council know his opinion on the matter.
“This town was named Rock Quarry before there was a quarry. It is tom-foolery to change the name now. You would have to change both town signs. And you can bet those folks in Lansing ain’t gonna want to print all new state maps to accommodate your folly,” he said.
He had a point. The town remained Rock Quarry.
Swimvest Treadwell grew up in Rock Quarry. As a boy, he dreamed of working in the quarry. There was something about it that fascinated him. When the quarry closed, Swimvest — who was 17 at the time — was devastated. He decided right then he would buy…
