Henry Hudson Barton arrived in Boston in 1846. He apprenticed with a jeweler for several years. One day a gentleman visited the jeweler, showing samples of Adirondack garnet. The garnets were not gem quality, so the jeweler did not purchase them. But they would prove to be very important in a few years.

Barton moved to Philadelphia and sold woodworking materials, including sandpaper. Barton decided he could make a better quality sandpaper. He remembered the garnet samples and tracked down the gentleman who had brought them to the jewelers.

Barton ground samples of Adirondack garnet into fine grains. He used the garnet dust to make sandpaper. Several woodworking shops tested the new material for him and told him it was excellent.

Barton started mining garnet in the Adirondacks in 1878. As mining continued, he realized the size of the Gore Mountain garnet deposit -- the largest deposit of garnet in the Adirondacks. In 1887 Barton purchased the entire mountain!