Think about enslaved laborers cutting stone by hand. This is Aquia Creek Quarry. It played a vital role in Washington D.C.’s early development.
Aquia Creek is a 27.6-mile-long tributary of the Potomac River. It is located about 45 miles south of Washington D.C. Aquia, Virginia gets its name from this creek.
The first mayor of Washington D.C. Robert Brent owned Aquia Creek Quarry. He sold it to the federal government in 1791 for $6000. Brent was then hired to run the quarrying operation. Records show enslaved labor was used here.
Enslaved workers received lower wages. They got cheaper food. They had no choice of employment. Their housing near the quarry was basic. They ate bread and salted meat.
Quarrying stone was difficult. There were no power tools. Cutting hauling carving and transport were all done by hand. Work happened in warmer months. Workers faced snakes mosquitoes and heat. Aquia Creek’s location made these pests worse. Both enslaved and free workers suffered. They were separated from family. They faced a high risk of injury. Commissioners gave workers whiskey. It is unclear if this included enslaved laborers.
Stone cutting involved clearing brush. Workers chipped away stone. They carved cavities into the stone. One worker would descend into these cavities. Trenches stone markings and basic tools helped produce stone. This stone was used to build the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House.
Aquia Creek sandstone became less popular in D.C. by the mid-1800s. The government didn’t sell the quarry until 1963. Today the area is known as Government Island. It is a historically preserved park.
The Public Quarry employed free white stone cutters. It also used enslaved laborers. Brent was told to hire 40 negroes. He paid them 12 pounds Virginia currency per year. Later he hired 25 able-bodied enslaved men. He paid up to fifteen pounds Virginia currency per year. Brent agreed to supply thousands of tons of stone.
Stone quarriers became major employers. The 1820 census showed manufacturing was a top occupation in Stafford County. Stone quarriers made up a large part of the manufacturing workforce.
The White House was built using Aquia Creek sandstone from 1792 to 1799. The National Capitol Columns also came from here. Aquia Creek Quarry tells a story of labor and construction. It shaped early Washington D.C.