The France Stone Company of Toledo was probably the world's largest producer of commercial crushed stone. At one time, they owned 20 quarries. They owned what was known as Holland Quarry and the land around it, which is now known as The Quarry, our residential neighborhood. After mining the major part of the limestone "egg," the quarry workers went on strike. The owners abandoned the worksite, the water pumps were turned off, and the shell of the quarry filled with fresh, clear, spring water. I have heard that much of the equipment for the operation of the stone mining is still at the bottom of our lake. Eventually, the land and lake were leased to a family that developed the property into a recreational park known as Salisbury Quarry Recreation Club.

The club included a concession stand with changing rooms, volleyball courts, a children's playground, and, of course, the most beautiful swimming hole. A beach was added, a scuba diving club was formed, and an overnight campground was created. Individuals and families enjoyed spending their time at Salisbury Quarry. Each season, to join the Salisbury Quarry Rec Club, a membership fee of $3.00 was required, and, in addition, an admission fee of 50 cents was charged each time a member visited the quarry.

It was not unusual to have around 1,000 people on that beach in the summer. On the north side of the beach was a low diving board, and on the south side of the beach was a high-diving platform, probably around 20’ high. There was a single and a dual water bobber for swimmers to ride on. On those busy days, there would be five to six lifeguards on duty, and it was a task to keep track of all those people. Lifeguards pulled a lot of kids out of the water – and a few adults! There was about a 400 sq. ft. concession area, and attached to that was a men’s and women’s changing area.

 

Toledo's premier developer, Bob Cavalear, was always looking for opportunities for residential development. A prospective property must have a focal point of interest. It could be a river, a lake, a golf course, or woods. A new expressway exit had just been approved at Salisbury/Dussel Road, and Trinova was completing their new corporate headquarters on Strayer Road. Cavalear Development Company purchased the 400+ acres of land and the quarry off of Salisbury Road, in 1988, for approximately $4 million.

Developing the acreage around the lake into an attractive and welcoming neighborhood was an enormous undertaking. Cavalear Development Company had plenty of expertise and experience since they had created The Hamlet, Willowbend, Stone Oak, The Meadows, Morningside, and Brookfield. The attraction of The Quarry was the beautiful, clear lake. The Quarry Beach and Racquet Club were built at the North end of the quarry lake. The clubhouse included a restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and a wraparound porch overlooking the lake. It was a private club with members who resided in The Quarry and from outside the neighborhood. There also was a dock and a pontoon boat available for rent.

The Quarry groundbreaking was in 1993. Soon, gatehouses were constructed at the entrances to the three neighborhoods within The Quarry. A huge advertising campaign began, and The Quarry was launched. With the building of each new house, an architectural plan and a landscaping plan were required to be submitted to the developer. This ensured the harmonious street scenes that The Quarry now enjoys. There are approximately 647 lots in The Quarry, which includes Greycliffe and The Homestead. As each plat was introduced to the public for sale, the lots would sell quickly. A new plot would then open up. The Quarry was a great success. With several remaining lots, Cavalear Development sold their interest to a new developer. The Beach and Tennis Club were sold to another entity. As the success of The Quarry became apparent, the commercial development of Dussel Road and Briarfield Boulevard increased. Restaurants and service businesses opened to support the new population, and new neighborhoods sprung up adjacent to The Quarry.