The quarry on Ponderosa Drive was originally opened in the early 1960's by Roland Norwood's father, Bob Norwood, and was known as "Norwood's Natural Stone". Roland was one of the key persons in charge of the quarry back then. At that time, stone was one of the main products used on large buildings in the Halifax and surrounding areas. Dalhousie, St Mary's, and Mount St Vincent Universities all have buildings with Bluestone on them. The stone was also used on Churches, Houses , Monuments, Walls , Patios, Restaurants, Tourist Bureaus, Fireplaces, etc. Later in the 1970's and 80's , Bluestone was replaced by man made products and the demand for Bluestone decreased. The Quarry was left idle for a number of years.

In the meantime, Roland and Linda Norwood also had a hobby, growing plants in their back yard. Then this evolved into also selling what they had grown. Their first crop was 50 poinsettias, grown in a tiny greenhouse and were sold door to door out of the family car. The following spring they grew bedding plants and sold them the same way and also at local flee markets.

The Nursery known as Norwood Gardens was built next to the Quarry in the early 1980's and today focuses on supplying bedding plants to the general public, landscape contractors, and other garden centers. The nursery consists of 5 large greenhouses (approx 30ft x 100ft) which are used to grow the majority of the plants from seed. Repeat customers have been known to come from other provinces to purchase the quality products. Roland says he "started this business way before 1980 because I loved gardening".

In 2003 the demand for Bluestone increased. The quarry was reopened by Norwood Gardens to compliment the already well established commercial greenhouse business. Most of the stone is used for Retaining Walls, Patios, Steps, and Houses.

Lake Echo Bluestone (Quartzite) has been quarried at Lake Echo since the 1950's. Natural seams in the bedrock make it possible for separation into large slabs. The stone itself has a distinct grain which makes it different  than most other stone.  It is easily broken along the grain into smaller pieces, which in turn can be finish faced using carbide chisels.  The result is a beautiful chipped face which is what you see when you look at chimneys and buildings such as...

...the new Library on Lacewood Drive in Halifax...

...and the High School in the same area are partially faced with Bluestone from Norwood Garden's Quarry.

Lake Echo Bluestone has even been used to repair a building faced originally with sandstone, which it closely resembles. The corners of the building were replaced with Bluestone because sandstone is a softer material which had been deteriorating.

Bluestone stands the test of time - unlike a lot of other building products it will not fade or deteriorate as it is an extremely hard building material that lasts virtually forever.

For more information on Greenhouse or Quarry products, Contact Norwood Gardens or visit the Greenhouse and Quarry pages.