Historic Quarry Hill Fireplace

The fireplace you see in front of you is more than 109 years old; built of limestone from the quarry found at the top of the trail to your left. Former State Hospital records indicate the fireplace sits on a site which was formerly a "landfill" for the hospital, probably a place where tin cans, glass bottles and other containers were dumped, a typical method of discharging trash in the past. Records also indicate that upon walking the area, a former superintendent of the hospital suggested the site would make a nice picnic area for the State Hospital. With the trash covered and a fireplace built, the site served employees as well as patients who had privileges to walk the hospital grounds. Before being bought by the city, Quarry Hill Park was originally part of the hospital grounds.