How to Move Large Stone Blocks

Years ago the author had to attend a Peruvian fiesta held in Hartford, Connecticut called ‘La fiesta de nuestro senora de la montanya.” which literally translated to the “Feast of our Lady of the Mountains.” This was an important feast held every October by the Peruvian community and involved a procession of Peruvians carrying a two and a half ton alter stone taken from the alter of the Sacred Heart Church on he corner of Charter Oak Avenue. As we all know most Peruvians are of Indian descent and in particular Inca descent. From photos we have seen in magazines and illustrating books we know these people are descended from expert stone builders.

Removing the Altar Stone

The headman of this part of the fiesta was old, and appeared to have much authority in the Peruvian Community. He has his men remove the edifice of the alter exposing the alter stone so that it could be worked upon by his men. The men than proceeded to raise the front of the stone with long poles of wood with metal ends that were thrust under the alter stone. As soon as the men had raised it about an inch whereupon he tossed a handful of dry sand under the stone. He then directed the men to slide the stone out from the remaining edifice of the alter. Once the stone was clear of the alter he gave up his authority to another old man who was in charge of the carriers.

Preparing to Move the Stone

The new leader had his men bring in four tree trunks that were about a foot thick at their butt ends, and maybe about eight inches thick on their small ends. These were lashed together at the butt ends forming two carrying handles that were each about thirty feet long. Then he had his men raise the stone with the poles the other workers had used while he passed eight pieces of rope under the two ends of the stone which he tied together loosely at the top of the stone. After the ropes were secure he then attached them to the thirty foot handles and summoned the rest of his men into the church.

Taking the Stone into a Procession

He then directed twenty men each to pick up the four handles and lift the stone. The stone weighed 5,000 pounds and dividing 5,000 by 80 meant that each man was carrying only 62.5 pounds each. This is an easy load per man. They carried the stone out of the church where they were joined by the rest of the parishioners who accompanied them in procession up Main St. until they reached Albany Ave. where they turned around and came back down Main St. past the church to the small park at the end of Main St. where they went around the park and back up Main St. with the stone. They went back into the church where they proceeded to put the stone back into the alter.

Putting the Altar Stone back into the Altar

The first leader then took over once again, and before the carriers could set the stone down he sprinkled some more dry sand under it, and the way back to the alter. The carriers set the stone down upon the dry sand, and removed the carrying handles. The leader then untied the ropes around the stone, and by having his helpers remove the ropes from under the stone they then shoved the stone back into its receptacle in the alter’s edifice. The rest of the edifice was replaced and the fiesta was over.