GRANITE RAIL QUARRY -- THE REAL STORY By David H. Morse, President, and David P. Hodgdon, Executive Director

The recent and very tragic death of Thomas L. Roberts occasioned by his 35-foot jump into Granite Rail Quarry brings into focus, once again, the several issues concerning all of the Quincy Quarries. Should swimming be permitted? If not, should the Quarries be filled? What is the proper role of the MDC and the City of Quincy as the managers and owners of most of the Quarries?       The Friends of the Blue Hills have played an active role in promoting proper management and stewardship of the Quincy Quarries during the past 21 years. We have long been on record, and we remain on record, first in support of leaving the Quarries in their present natural state and second in implementing proper ranger and lifeguard patrols.       The MDC acquired Granite Rail Quarry in 1985. For four years it was adequately managed and 90% of the floating and submerged debris was removed. Unfortunately, in the last eight years, the MDC has conspicuously failed to have any rangers on duty on any kind of regular basis. 10% of the debris still remains and is extremely hazardous.       As a first step, the MDC should immediately reinstitute adequate patrolling of the Granite Rail Quarry. Rules and regulations against drinking and drug use should be strictly enforced. As a second step, the MDC should immediately undertake to remove the remaining debris. By taking these two steps, futures swimming injuries and deaths would be greatly reduced if not eliminated altogether.      It should be recognized that during the last twelve years, notwithstanding the almost total lack of patrolling and the presence of some debris, Mr. Roberts is the only proven death from swimming at Granite Rail. There is the mystery surrounding the death of P. J. McDonagh whose body has never been found. It has been suggested that a $1,000,000 appropriation be expended to drain Granite Rail in order to search for Mr. McDonagh's body. We suggest that a better use of these funds would be in taking the two steps outlined above, thereby saving future lives.      Granite Rail is one of at least 20 quarries in this area, of which at least 17 are unfilled. In addition to Granite Rail, the MDC owns at least eight other unfilled quarries on the westerly side of the Southeast Expressway, as well as two filled quarries. The City of Quincy owns five unfilled quarries in the area of Granite Rail, one of which is Swingle's Quarry, which is adjacent to Granite Rail. The City also owns Badgers Quarry which is now filled. More than three quarries in the area are privately owned. Overall in Quincy, there are approximately 54 quarries. The MDC should acquire the quarries remaining in private hands and, in conjunction with the City of Quincy, prepare and implement a long-range management plan pursuant to which the Quarries would remain in their natural state with swimming permitted in selected ones such as Granite Rail and Fuller's Quarries.      For many generations young people in Quincy have enjoyed swimming in the Quarries. The water in most of the Quarries is of drinking quality. Swimming in the Quarries, while not without danger, is a happy memory for many individuals. The Quarries in their present state have great historic significance because of the quarrying activities that took place earlier in this century and in prior centuries. Unfilled, they offer the finest rock climbing in eastern Massachusetts. The Quarries also provide scenic vistas for hikers and walkers.      Thomas L. Roberts was a fine young man who enjoyed swimming in the Quarries. The appropriate way to honor his memory would be to remove the remaining debris from Granite Rail Quarry and to allow the continuance of day-time swimming in the same manner that has been enjoyed by generations in the past.