Barnicoat, S. H., Monuments
Also known as: Hancock Monuments
Why it's listed
Located at 114 Columbia Street in West Quincy, this granite works dates to 1890, when Englishman S. Henry Barnicoat established his business there. It is a one-and-one-half story, L-shaped frame building with wood clapboards and a low sloping gable roof. A series of work stations, each with small windows and its own entrance, face a central derrick in the yard, and a small gable-roofed office is attached at the west end. Inside, modern motors and carbide tools share space with original technology such as the blacksmith's station, large pulleys and rollers, a sand-blast room and dust-removal hoses. Barnicoat ran the works until his death in 1898. It was reorganized as the Columbia Granite Company and bought by John McQueen and Richard Gordon in 1900. It later became Hancock Monuments. Of the several granite works once in this part of Quincy, it is the only one that keeps its original appearance, which makes it the last intact example of the late-19th-century granite cutting sheds.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the only intact example of the granite cutting sheds once numerous in Quincy in the late 19th century. It retains integrity of design, location, materials, setting, feeling and association with Quincy's granite industry. It is argued to meet Criteria A and C at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001325, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 114 Columbia St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001325 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good, with no major alterations; the works remain in active use as a monument company. The present derrick is not original and is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.23514, -71.01183 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001325.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387509
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.