Tragic 1929 explosion at Stone Mountain rock quarry

The Glaze family of Doraville owned and operated a store at the corner of Peeler Road and Winters Chapel Road beginning in the 1930s. It is from their family history that I learned of an explosion in 1929 at the Stone Mountain rock quarry.

James D. Glaze of Stone Mountain died in the explosion.. His son, 16-year-old Herman Glaze was working as a water boy at the quarry. Herman was far enough away from the explosion to not be injured. After his father died, Herman Glaze took on the role of father and provider for the family. He later moved to Doraville and started the H. T. Glaze Grocery Store.

The March 1, 1929 Atlanta Constitution reported that an explosion at Stone Mountain near the Confederate carving killed seven men and injured six. These numbers may have increased as the days passed. The men were all working for Stone Mountain Granite Corporation. The explosion happened near the timekeeper’s office just as men were checking off their names after a day’s work.

The names of those who died from the explosion were listed in the newspaper and include James D. (or J. D.) Glaze. Superintendent of Stone Mountain Granite Corporation Cliff G. Davis also lost his life that day. Davis was originally from Lizella, near Macon, Georgia. A veteran of World War I who served in France, Davis moved to Stone Mountain and began work at the quarry. He left behind a wife and two children.  (Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia Cemetery Records, 1857 to 1933)

Cal Howard was working as a stone driller at the quarry. He left behind wife Mattie Howard. Also working as a stone driller was Cody Smith. Smith’s wife Daisy became a widow. Both Howard and Smith were Black men. Each Black man is identified in the 1929 newspapers as “colored.”

Charles Haynes, a Black man working as a ledge foremen, died that day. The 1920 census shows Haynes as 55 years old, which means he was doing this physical and dangerous work at age 64.  

O. Z. Cowan was working as a driller at Stone Mountain Quarry when he died. Cowan’s wife Olivia was left behind. His body may have been returned to his hometown in North Carolina, based on information from his death certificate.

Lastly, Will Maddox, a Black man working as a breaker, also died in the tragic explosion. Unfortunately, I did not find additional information on Maddox.

Some of these men were hired to work on the Confederate memorial carving, working under Gutzon Borglum.