Frazier Quarry
The Frazier Quarry Inc. (TFQ) is a large family owned quarry and stone product retailer based in the United States. The company is headquartered in Harrisonburg, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley. It is the only producer of Shenandoah Valley Bluestone and also provides crushed stone and retail products. The company was founded in 1915 as Betts Quarry and became The Frazier Quarry Incorporated in 1946. The company is a third generation family owned business and derives its name from the owners. TFQ markets its products under its own brand name and also under Stonewall Grey which is for products cut and sawed on location and unique to TFQ.
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Quarry |
| Founded | 1915[1] |
| Founder | Robert Y. Frazier |
| Headquarters | Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States |
Area served | primarily Eastern United States |
| Products | Fire Pits, dimension bluestone, fountains, benches, crushed stone |
Number of employees | 50 (2008) |
| Website | Frazier Quarry Home |
History
Beginning in 1915, TFQ has been a prominent business serving the Shenandoah Valley, both commercially and philanthropically. Frazier Quarry is one of the largest family owned and operated quarries operating in the United States. The quarry was founded to function as a cornerstone to the region by providing crushed stone for new construction projects and helping to expedite the growth of the Shenandoah Valley. The crushed stone production from TFQ has remained a reliable mainstay in construction projects in the area, and through years of improving practices and setting systems in place, the crushed stone production is operating stably and the quarry has begun other initiatives to supply the Valley with high grade stone products. The most notable new direction is the production of “The Valley’s Own Bluestone” which has helped to resurrect the region’s architectural legacy of Bluestone construction by once again providing it from a local source. Other aspects of the expansion are largely Do-It-Yourself (DIY) outdoor living or landscaping projects including: landscaping stone, all natural stone intraconvertible fire pits/fountain kits, flagstone, and solid stone garden benches. The DIY approach to the product line has allowed TFQ to offer low prices for high quality products through selling directly (not through middlemen) and creating products that do not require professional installation.
Historical Innovation
Bluestone is an identifying characteristic of Shenandoah Valley architecture, and can be seen in the buildings erected by the Valley's earliest European settlers, who quarried the stone from their own lands to construct foundations and chimneys. A sedimentary stone known as limestone , the rock is so named because of the manner in which it weathers in response to exposure to the elements. Naturally possessing a dark blue-grey color, chemical interactions between the stone with water and UV rays weather the stone's face to a light grey. Architects from the area began the bluestone legacy by historically embracing the bluestone look, using it in the construction of major universities and important historical sites across the Valley, including the aptly named “Bluestone Campus” of James Madison University, the Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, Belle Grove Plantation, and the Stonewall Jackson Home. There are today, however, many more obstacles facing architects hoping to continue the bluestone legacy. Bluestone availability is no longer so prevalent, for unlike the earliest constructions, which utilized stone from onsite or in close proximity, modern constructions must look further afield for bluestone material. With rising costs of material transportation, other fabricated materials such as brick and siding were turned to as affordable alternatives, and institutions largely had to abandon the bluestone legacy. Realizing that a vital piece of the area’s cultural paradigm was being lost, TFQ is committed to providing affordable bluestone so that the Valley may continue to honor its architectural roots. In pursuit of this vision, TFQ brought dimension-cut Bluestone to a commercial scale with the establishment of the Stonewall Division. The divisions name commemorates Stonewall Jackson and pays homage to the Civil War history which is so rich within the Shenandoah Valley. Though the Stonewall Division at TFQ is currently shut down, when in operation, it is able to provide dimension bluestone to architects, builders, masons, and consumers matching that found on some of the Valley's most iconic buildings.
Community Involvement
The Frazier Quarry continues to play a large role within the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County communities. At TFQ, support of the local educational organizations remains a key component of the company's community involvement. Towards this end, TFQ annually donates time and resources in sponsorship of local schools and universities. Furthermore, TFQ regularly provides guided tours of the quarry to students from across the Valley, providing them with insights into the foundational role of crushed stone in society, and the modern means by which stone is safely mined and processed into finished product. Beyond this, TFQ is constantly in search of ways to show its appreciation to the community which has supported its mining operations for over a century. Like its stone products, this show of appreciation has come in a variety of forms over the years, such as charitable giving, corporate sponsorship, and crushed stone donation. A few specific examples of TFQ's community involvement are: a stone garden gifted to the local public television station, Stonewall Grey Split-Faced Stone donated to the downtown Harrisonburg Liberty Park, a natural stone fountain gifted to the Harrisonburg Visitor's Center also known as the Hardesty-Higgins House, a custom inscribed Stonewall Grey Garden Bench provided to Harrisonburg High School, corporate sponsorship of local charity events like the Disaster Relief Auction, as well as crushed stone donated for use in an Eagle Scout project aimed at constructing a therapeutic riding ring for disabled children.
Environmental Consciousness
The quarry collaborates with local builders and contractors to place an emphasis on local stone use, thereby reducing fuel costs on the shipping. Increased focus has been given to ways in which TFQ stone products may be utilized in the construction of LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facilities, which promote the use of all-natural building materials in concert with energy efficient systems. Even more, TFQ stone has increasingly been recognized as suitable material for environmental remediation projects involving stream bank fortification, erosion control, and soil stabilization.
All Natural - A natural alternative to artificial and man-made building products.
High Calcium - Neutralizes acids in streams, lakes, and soils.
Erosion Control - Large stone boulders "Rip Rap", help prevent and control erosion.
J-hooks - A novel use of Rip Rap in a stream or river to cause an eddy current/backwater that protects streambank ecosystems as specified by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland fisheries.
Riparian Buffer Zone - Rip Rap placed on river banks along with vegetation to slow flood waters.
AgLime - A powdery byproduct of crushed stone processing, AgLime (High Calcium and High Magnesium) is spread over fields in order to stabilize soil chemistry for increased crop production.
Clean Air – Low-emission quarry machinery utilizes Caterpillar’s revolutionary ACERT engines, high-performance engines that adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency’s required Tier 2 and Tier 3 restriction, while improving performance, durability, and fuel efficiency.
No Chemicals – No chemicals are involved in either the quarrying or processing of crushed stone. Hydrocarbons and lubricants are utilized only in the operation of machinery.
Recycled Oil – Waste hydrocarbons and lubricants from the heavy machinery involved in the quarrying process are collected and burned in specially-designed furnaces to heat the shops during the winter.
Land Reclamation – An ongoing process of reclaiming any disturbed land that has had the limestone extracted. They fill, re-grade, and re-vegetate those areas, creating such useful sites as parks, school grounds, agricultural land, arboretums, etc.
Wildlife Preserves – TFQ preserves the natural habitats of the plant and animal life in the areas immediately surrounding mining operations. These buffer zones have over the years become de facto preserves for local wildlife, as the quarry bars these zones from trespassers, prohibits hunting and off-road vehicles, and maintains the land in its natural state.
References
- The Frazier Quarry
- Court Days Festival
- Shenandoah Valley Business Newsletter
- James Madison University
- Frazier Quarry Online Store
- "Through the Generations with The Frazier Quarry." Stone Review Oct 1992: 14-16.
- Kushner, Cathy. Science in the Quarry." Daily News and Record [Harrisonburg]15 Jul 1995
- Reilly, Micheal. "Scouts Aid SPCA." Daily News and Record [Harrisonburg]06 Mar 1995
- Reilly, Micheal. "Stream Restoration Continues." Daily News and Record [Harrisonburg] 06 Sep 1994
- Puckett, Bettina. "Etched in Bronze: Frazier Quarry Donation Recognized by Smithsonian Museum." Daily News and Record [Harrisonburg] 11 Nov 1999