The Wicked Yard

There are many sustainable practices that manufacturers of building materials can adopt, but there is only one building material that is inherently good for the earth and good for your health — natural stone.

“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Swenson? Family. The Swenson name has a history attached to it. 133 years as a family business and I’ve seen all sides of it,” said Walbridge.

When most people think of granite veneer, they commonly associate it with heavy full bed veneer, but thin veneer is an excellent versatile alternative that can be used a number of ways for both the interior and exterior of your home.

On September 22, 2020, Swenson Granite Works debuted WOODBURY GRAY™ granite thin veneer at its South Hadley, Massachusetts store in partnership with the Homebuilders Association of Western Massachusetts Association. The Swenson Granite Works team is thrilled to add this thin veneer to the Woodbury Gray granite family of products and is excited to share the details with customers!

A black and white palette is a classic, with endless design possibilities from subdued to striking. Some may think that monochrome is boring or plain, but black, white and gray—when used the right way—can bring a space to life. A hardscape project in Laconia, New Hampshire shows what can be done with monochrome design—and with granite from Swenson Granite Works.

From helping a homeowner with a first-time project to overseeing a monument honoring veterans constructed in their hometown, the teams at Swenson Granite Works’ two New Hampshire retail locations in Concord and Amherst are deeply connected to their surrounding communities. It makes sense, seeing as they work with a material so closely connected to the Granite State and quarried just steps away in Concord.

For the complete renovation of her mid-19th Century home in Westport, Connecticut, actress, entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger Eva Amurri wanted to stay true to its simple New England roots — both inside and out. So, just as the mom of three retained most of the original doors and hardware inside the home to blend old and new elements, the hardscape design incorporated natural stone details using granite that was quarried nearby, which seamlessly blends into the historic neighborhood’s landscape.

From its uppermost reaches in Maine down to Connecticut’s southern shores, New England’s coastline features a topography ranging from rugged cliff faces, rocky shorelines and sandy beaches. While varied, the length of the northeast seaboard shares one common variable: the occasional wrath of Mother Nature. 

Year after year, the coastline takes batterings from seasonal hurricanes and nor’easters — not to mention winter’s damaging cold temperatures and winds — all while being pounded by the waves of the salty Atlantic Ocean. It stands to reason that anything built along the coast calls for only the most durable building materials to weather New England’s seasonal swings and ocean tides. 

For many, granite is the natural choice for projects that must contend with the harsh ocean elements and withstand the constant freeze-thaw cycle.

High above New Hampshire’s Merrimack River, deep in the core of Rattlesnake Hill, Swenson Granite Works has been quarrying historic CONCORD GRAY™ granite since 1883. Also known as Swenson Gray, the iconic stone has brought timeless style to buildings across the country for over a century and has been a part of the company’s heritage of stonework. While methods for cutting the rock have changed over time and many other quarries have come and gone, one thing remains the same: Concord Gray granite has stood the test of time.

Friendly. Family and community oriented. Up and coming.

Those are just a few of the things that come to mind for John Proulx when he thinks of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where he manages one of Swenson Granite Works’ newest retail stores.