Grindstone City Historic District

Grindstone City Historic District is an industrial area along Lake Huron in Port Austin Township where stone quarry operations took place between the 1800s and early 1900s. The site includes weathered stone structures, worked quarry edges, and two jetties extending into the water that mark the former production center.

A captain founded a quarry here in 1833 that quickly became a major employer, supporting around 200 workers by 1888. Production ended during the Great Depression when demand for grindstones dropped sharply.

The quarry industry shaped daily life here for generations, and visitors can still see the massive stone blocks and worker buildings that reflect this industrial heritage. The architecture of these structures reveals the craft-based nature of the grindstone trade, with sturdy stone buildings defining the shoreline.

The site is easy to walk through and offers open spaces to explore the old structures and stone blocks. Visitors should bring wind-resistant clothing as the area sits open toward the lake and can be breezy.

The stone blocks came in different sizes, ranging from small whetstones to massive examples weighing several tons that were loaded onto ships. These stones supplied mills and workshops across North America until the operations closed during the economic downturn.