Back to Architecture

Source of Granite

Allison Spier built his plantation house in an area supplied with ample natural granite quarries.  According to a Geological Survey of Georgia from 1902, granite occurred near Fairburn, Georgia that was “well suited” for constructing buildings and monuments.  In the 19th Century, this granite in several outcrops had been quarried and used locally.  The only active quarry in the area at the turn of the 20th Century was the Carmichael quarry on the “old Westbrook estate.”  It was located northeast of Fairburn and a few miles north of the Spier House.  Another granite outcropping lay within a mile east of the Carmichael quarry.  From this place, the survey indicates “some stone is said to have been quarried for chimneys some years ago.”

The 1864 Civil War Atlas map shows a Westbrook residing just east of the railroad in the same vicinity as the Carmichael quarry and the outcrops.  This location coincides with deed records of sale to James Westbrook in 1846.  Records show this James Westbrook to be the owner “old Westbrook estate,” the land containing the quarry and outcropping.   He is also probably the same person who sold the Spier House property to Allison Spear in 1851.  Allison Spier’s apparent business or personal relationship with Westbrook likely provided Spier with fine granite for the construction of his new house.