The Wicked Yard

Pictured is John Swenson and family, circa early 1900's.

For the rare business fortunate to make it so far, a 90^th year in operation is known as a Granite Anniversary. Swenson Stone Works surpassed that milestone 50 years ago this year and is still going as strong as its first quarry in Concord, New Hampshire’s Rattlesnake Hill.

What’s the secret to Swenson’s 140-year run as an industry leader? Like the salt and pepper speckles in Swenson’s signature Concord Gray granite, it took a unique blend of attributes – parts innovation, immigration, diversification, and determination to name a few. 

When you drive along the coast of New England, you can’t help but see rows of beautiful coastal homes. With their clean, crisp elegance, and some located in historical districts that tell the story of the area, they represent a certain lifestyle and the people who love it.

The front of your home is more than just paint, trim and steps. You can create a stunning New England look with aesthetic details around your property that bring beauty and value to your curb appeal.

If you drive around New England, one thing you’ll notice is the use of granite and natural stone on structures from state buildings to countryside homes. “Look around. All the old houses and barns have slabs of granite stacked to make the foundation. It’s just something that’s been used since we were founded here,” says Robert Howard of Stone Solutions Maine. He’s been using Swenson granite in the majority of his projects, many of which are rebuilding steps that have rotted or succumbed to the harsh weather conditions that the East Coast can dole out.  

Your mailbox is not only a gateway to communication with the outside world; it’s also part of the overall curb appeal of your home. If you currently have an existing mailbox on a wooden, plastic, metal or concrete post, chances are, at some point, you will need to replace it due to environmental erosion to the foundation or post causing it to lean, or rotting wood weakening the structure.

A granite mailbox post provides the everlasting durability of stone pulled and cut from solid rock. It’s just a matter of setting it in place correctly.

After a year of spending more time than ever indoors, homeowners are upgrading their outdoor living spaces and making them the center of activity and a focal point for families and friends. One common backyard improvement is the addition of a granite fire pit. Whether you’re looking to entertain guests or enjoy down time at the end of a long day,  a granite fire pit is an essential addition to any home that can be enjoyed during all seasons and is quick to assemble. 

Narragansett, Rhode Island was first surging in popularity as a summer resort town in 1887 when a Queen Anne Victorian home was built at the corner of Narragansett Avenue and Robinson Street. With stained-glass windows, ornate bargeboards, and a charming assortment of shingle styles, it was a turn-of-the-century dream home. Flash forward 130+ years and the once stately Victorian still stands in the Pier neighborhood of the quaint seaside town, but the exterior was weathered, the interior structurally deficient, and the home sat on its corner lot, vacant and abandoned. 

From the moment she saw the historic Greek Revival home, built in the mid-1800s and set on an acre of property in charming Westport, Connecticut, actress, entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger Eva Amurri could see the potential. “We loved it from the second we saw it,” explained the mom of two young children with a third on the way, “but felt like its space was not utilized well and it lacked the grandness it deserved, given its historic location in town.

Photo credit: U.S. Army

In a continued sign that those who lost their lives on 9/11 will never be forgotten, a memorial to those who were killed during the attack on the Pentagon was recently unveiled at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

The memorial is in front of the new headquarters and reads, “PENTAGON … SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 … 09:37 … 184 HEROES.” The monument features a limestone slab from the original Pentagon building that survived the attack. WOODBURY GRAY® granite was used for the two outside, upright markers and the central block that the beam is resting on.

Within the last five years, residents in two small towns in Massachusetts have spearheaded the funding and construction of memorials that honor veterans and both feature WOODBURY GRAY™ granite, quarried in nearby Vermont.