Monson Slate & JFK memorial

[rickb]

With this week marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, there was just a piece on CBS SUnday Morning that ended with a shot of JFKs gravestone and the eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery.

The black slate came from a quarry in Monson, as it was considered the very best. I never thought of the slate queries in Monson when walking through, or why even humble homes in the area had slate roofs-- and only learned that when checking the photos on the wall in the town laundromat years later.

I can only imagine how much history and stories I walked by without a second thought.

[Captain Blue]

The sidewalks in Monson are made of slate too. Quite slippery when wet.

[Sugarfoot]

Monson slate is still available commercially. I specified it for inside my house and for patios. Same price as more common Brazilian slate. It is about double the density of most slates, a true neutral gray in color, and very low cleft, meaning layers don't slough off. Most slates are not suitable for monuments. Kind of fun to have a connection to the Trail in my house, and now I know there's also a connection to JFK. Thanks.

[RockDoc]

A lot of raw slate is laid out on display in the lot right next to the gas station that makes the wonderful pizza.