This stoning machine was used by farmers around Glengarry to remove boulders from their fields. It was made in the Jamieson's shop in Brodie, Ontario, and would have been in use in the mid to late 19th century. The first stoning machine that they made had to be driven to Kingston in order to get a patent for it.
Farmers would rent this machine for $1.50 a day.Young boys would have to work ahead of the machine and chisel holes into the stone so that the grapples can grip the stone and then, using horse power and a lever system, the stone would be lifted from the field. Some stone fences around Glengarry still have large stones with holes on the top of them, which is a trademark of this machine.
This drawing of the giant machine was sketched for the museum by Ross Mclean.
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