Joseph Brinton’s ‘Celebrated’ Serpentine Stone: How A Chester County Stone Became a Multi-Regional Gilded Age Fad

A presentation by Anne E. Krulikowski, PhD

Join us as Anne Krulikowski explores the craze for green building stone that spanned America’s Gilded Age, when the Brinton quarry south of West Chester became the most famous and longest operated serpentine quarry of the era.

Anne explores the craze for green building stone that spanned America’s Gilded Age.  After a brief look at the folklore and history of serpentine around the world, we will focus on Quaker Joseph Brinton’s determination to build a successful business despite numerous obstacles. Hundreds of dwellings, churches, schools, and institutions were faced with Brinton’s serpentine. The green stone became such a recognizable feature in the urban landscape of many cities that green stone buildings featured in short stories, novels, and travel accounts as markers of prosperity and wealth.

This talk was presented to the Philadelphia Chapter of the SAH via zoom on Nov 4, 2025.  In it, she  uncovers the complex history of this material in Greater Philadelphia and beyond during the mid- and late-19th century.

To access the video use this link to go to the SAH website.
https://philachaptersah.org/index.php/videos/
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to find the serpentine presentation.