columns and ornaments which can be seen in most of the important business buildings and private mansions in California". Samples of the several kinds of granite were sent to the Centennial Exposition, and were pronounced to be "the best in the world" with reference to being free from iron, and thus, assured not to stain or abrade. This fact was brought to the attention of the officials of the Interior Department, Washington, D.C., whose duty it was to report upon the building materials of the United States. They wrote to Griffith requesting samples, and he responded. By 1870, the Penryn Quarry was known throughout Northern California for its high quality of granite. It became one of the most successful manufacturing businesses in the county due to Griffith's ability to secure many lucrative supply contracts. Polishing mill In 1874, Penryn Granite Works erected a polishing mill, the first and only one of its kind in the state. A steam engine, weighing ten tons, gave the energy for polishing stone. The polishing mill enabled circular columns and pillars to be manufactured to decorate buildings. Polished urns could also be produced. Business continued to boom. "There were 125 men employed at Griffith's quarry in 1879, and Mr. Griffith had just contracted to furnish granite for the James Flood mansion at San Francisco". The end of Penryn Granite Works Griffith Griffith died in 1889; his nephew, David Griffith, took over the business. However, David was more interested in the booming fruit orchard business and shipping industry than he was in pursuing granite contracts. In addition, the use of other materials such as concrete was increasing. Eventually, he was doing nothing more than producing headstones for graves while mostly managing his fruit orchards in the area. When David died in 1918, the Penryn Granite Works closed. David's only child, Enid Griffith, died in 1976 and left the company's office building and the adjacent quarry land to Placer County for use as a museum and park. The original stone building is still standing and serves as the quarry museum. Enid Griffith is buried in the family plot in Auburn, California, along with her great uncle, Griffith Griffith, founder of Penryn and the granite works. References Bibliography Brown, Douglas, "G. Griffith: His Work in Granite." (August 28, 2004, 2nd Edition) (n.p.) Davis, Leonard M., Penryn: A Village Locked in Time. (Penryn: Friends of the Griffith Quarry, 1995),