The quarries connect underground, both lower parts are flooded. They are massive and markings all along the walls can be seen where the soapstone was chipped out, the greenish hue is the soapstone and feels soapy to the touch. The openings are about 80 feet tall. Both openings can be viewed and the derrick base is still in place above the gaping holes.

The Berkshire Talc Manufacturing Company was formed by Booth and his son from 1898 to 1906 but first worked by Theodore Harold in 1884 mining talc and soapstone and prepared at a mill west of the quarry on the bank of the river. Talc and soapstone were carted across the river on a tempoary bridge then hauled to the mill near the railstation in Dalton. Asbestos and talc were produced here. There were actually two quarries, the 2nd not found on this trip. The purer talc was ground and the massive blocks, more impure were made for soapstone bed warmers, boot driers and foot warmers for sleighs.

A very big Thank You to Alec Gillman and the DCR for an educational tour of Wahconah Falls State Park in Dalton/Windsor/Hinsdale. The surreal, wild beauty of this park is filled with history. An amazing three tier waterfall with a 50 foot drop on Wahconah Falls Brook with verticle viens of Becket Gneiss like you have never seen! We spent four hours here at the Cleveland grist mill, Booth-Bardin saw mill and the Berkshire Talc quarry operation and mine with its giant soapstone shaft. We look forward to more events in 2023 with Alec and the DCR in our western mass State Forests which hold so much of our history and make Western Mass a wild and beautiful adventure destination!

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