From Georgia Quarry to Mayo Building: “White Gold” #ThrowbackThursday
In April 1966, the first marble for the Mayo Building addition was hung at the 11th floor level on the west side. Five months later, this phase of construction was virtually complete. Workmen stood on a screened platform, which was suspended from the 19th floor and raised to the top as work was completed. The 4½ courses of stone needed to enclose a floor rest on an angle iron bolted to the structure. The bolts can be seen (in the last photo at the end of the article) extending from the eight-inch masonry, which enclosed the steel structure. Also visible are the stainless steel anchors (just to the left of each clamp). These fit into top and bottom of pre-drilled holes in the marble slabs.
Enough marble was stockpiled at each level to enclose the floor. Each slab was coded to indicate its position in the building face. A cart to move the stone to the hoist was specially designed for this project by George Jones, Stocke and Co., superintendent. An electric hoist positioned the slab, which rests on the stone below it about three inches from the concrete face.
The photographs (below) of the Georgia quarry are courtesy of FRIENDS magazine. Photos at the Mayo Building are by William Newman.




