Sackville had a flourishing grind stone industry in the 1800s. Grindstones were a rare article only produced in Maritimes.

Lower Cove had a quarry where grindstones were mined. The Acadians were producing grindstones long before 1800s for their own use. One of the early stone traders, Joseph Read, leased a property there in 1810.

When one looks at this huge grindstone, one wonders what is it and how was it used. It is simply sandstone with sharp particles turned round on a lathe.

They varied in sizes and weight. Some of them were up to 7 feet in diameter and weighed up to 8000 pounds. The grindstones were used for what the name stands for, i.e. sharpening tools, axes, scythes etc.

The Read family has been associated with the grindstone business for several generations. The Read Grindstone business had a huge impact on the local economy.

The mining operations were spread over a large area in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

In 1810 Mr. Read leased a shore property from Amos Seaman near Joggins mines. The mining was done in several areas, Stone Haven in Gloucester County, Woodburn and Pictou Island in Pictou County, and Quarryvillle in Miramichi area (White Fence #8).

The Read family is also closely linked to Marshlands Inn. There are photographs of various members of the Read family in the Marshlands Inn. Even today, some grindstones can be found on lawns in Sackville and Dorchester.

The image portrayed here is of one that is behind the Keillor House Museum in Dorchester, NB.