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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 71
possibly could. As a result, he had not only enough for his own use,
but was enabled to supply the general demand. Even then no one
kneAv that the ledge of sandstone, which crops out on the northeast of
the Heights, was one of the most valuable in the state. George A.
Baillie was the first to make this knoAvn.
It was not an easy thing to do, for more than tAventy feet of strippings
had to he cleared away before the desired quality of stone could
be secured. There was a fine gravel bed near by, and because of this
the Lake Shore Railroad Was Avilling to extend a branch road into the
heart of the quarry. The stone is of superior quality and seemingly
inexhaustible. The strata lie from six inches to eight feet in thickness.
General Gihnore made a test of it and thought it Avould bear a crushing
force of 14,250 per square inch, and a well-knoAvn architect, E. E.
Myers, says, "He regards it as one of the best sand stones he has ever
seen or used." It is apparently unaffected by changes of temperature,
by acids or age. There were 400 carloads shipped in one year (1878),
mostly to NCAV York. There is also another quarry seemingly as inexhaustible.
Grindstones were formerly - manufactured, but the business
Avas discontinued.
As soon as their cabins were built and tlieir lands cleared for a
crop the early pioneers began to set out orchards, even while the
forest trees were still standing. No apples could be obtained/nearer
than Canada, which then seemed much further distant than now. The
first fruit trees Avere brought from there in 1812 by John Hoak/ and Mr.
Fleming, of Huron, who went across the lake and returned with a boatload
of trees. Some of these were still growing as late as 1889. There
AA-ere also three pear trees that Avere immense specimens of their kind, one
of them measuring seventy feet in height and eighty-seven inches in
circumference. Their average yield was from thirty to fifty bushels
each. This Avas the beginning of an industry that has since made
Berlin famous, and no toAvnship can compete with it in the amount of
fruit raised.
Dairying Avas not profitable in the early years, but after the establishment
of a creamery by Melvin Stone in 1877 a new impetus
was given to this business. More than 250 COAVS were soon devoted
to its supply. A finer quality of butter Avas made at a much
loAver cost, yet bringing a higher price. The secret of the success
of this plant Avas a stream of cold Avater, of even temperature, which
furnished cooling facilities. By 1878 the patronage of the creamery
had increased to 340 COAVS, an increase of 90, marking the permanent
success of the business. <
The Berlin box factory Avas started in 1865. At first it was connected
with the sorghum business, which began about the same time. In the
year 1864 10,000 gallons of syrup were made and the business
continued until 1866. In addition to making boxes, barrels' for shipping
apples were also made, and in one year 6,000 were sent out. Two
years later the box business had so increased that all other interests
were closed out. The owners continually added to their buildings and