“We knew they were there long before the trail.. we lived at the river when we were kids.. fishing.. swimming..”
James Taylor Jr.
At the beginning of its lifespan, a grindstone measured approximately 7 feet across. These huge sandstone rocks were used at the Disston Saw Factory to sharpen blades. They went through them so quickly, that the Disston family employed a department of 10 men just for hauling the discarded stones!
There were so many grindstones in the Disston Yard, that they’ve become an architectural staple in Tacony. Employees took them home to build retaining walls and stacked them along the river for fishing — not to mention the Grindstone Church!