Two things have long defined the city: immigration and granite.
By the late 1800s, Barre’s quarries and stone sheds were humming – and among those whose skills were in great demand were stone carvers from Italy.
A drive down Main Street provides some wonderful examples of their work: At one end of town there’s a large statue of a stonecutter…at the other end, a sculpture of Scottish poet Robert Burns, carved by Italian immigrants.
But the greatest tribute to their artistry is on a hill outside of town. It’s a place where some of their best work is displayed, and where many of them are buried. VPR’s Steve Zind stopped by this week to take a look and hear some of the stories of the people whose lives shaped Barre City.