Woolery Stone Company, historic industrial complex in Bloomington, Indiana, USA
The Woolery Stone Company is a former quarry and factory complex on the south side of Bloomington, Indiana, with remnants of two mills and processing facilities from the twentieth century. The site covers about 28 acres with limestone buildings in International Style from the 1940s and 1950s, including office spaces, workshops, and storage structures for stone work.
The company was founded in 1913 by Henry Woolery and initially operated as A. J. Woolery & Sons, remaining under family ownership for decades. The factory expanded after World War II, doubling its size in the 1940s and 1950s before closing in 1996 after more than 80 years of operation, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The name Woolery comes from the founding family who ran the operation for generations. The site reflects the working culture of a stone-processing community where family business and craftsmanship were closely tied together.
The site is accessible today and displays raw limestone walls and large metal mill buildings that reflect the historical work process. Wear comfortable shoes as exploring the 28-acre site is done on foot and you will walk across uneven terrain and stone surfaces.
The site was featured in the American film 'Breaking Away,' which documents small-town life and the importance of the limestone industry to Bloomington. The original frame of the mill was shipped from Chicago in 1948, showing the scale and reach of industrial operations at that time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
