Proudly serving Canadian families since 1909. From a small workshop in an old New Brunswick church to Ontario's largest monumental stone working company — four generations of the Nelson family, in their own time.
Founded by George W. Nelson and his brother Percy at Lower Cape in Albert County, New Brunswick. The brothers set up shop in an old church — showroom at the front, manufacturing at the back — and traded as George W. Nelson & Sons, quarrying granite and producing monuments and architectural stonework.
The famous Spoon Island quarry, in production since 1841, was acquired. Its distinctive grey granite — known as Coral Dawn — had been used in bridges and public buildings across the Maritimes, the Sir John A. Macdonald monument in Kingston, and later the causeway to Prince Edward Island.
The family broke ground on a modern plant in Sussex and outfitted it with the most advanced stone-working machinery of the era. The company name became Nelson Monuments Ltd.
The Nelsons purchased a black granite quarry at Digdeguash Lake from Ken Fitzgerald and began redevelopment and quarrying operations, living at cottages built on the lake during the operating seasons.
Harry and Maurice Nelson moved to Windsor, Nova Scotia and built a new manufacturing plant to focus on the Nova Scotia market. Heritage Memorials remains today one of Atlantic Canada's largest monument companies.
Russell's sons Merrill, Eric and Carter purchased 75% of their father's shares. Merrill ran manufacturing in Sussex, Eric handled sales and overseas granite sourcing, and Carter looked after quarrying. Garth Nelson joined the company in 1970 at age 13 and went full-time in the Evandale quarry at 16.
Carter Nelson and his family relocated to Vermilion Bay to develop a new quarry and manufacturing plant. Nelson Granite is now one of the largest and most successful producing granite quarries in North America, exporting large, evenly-squared blocks worldwide.
Garth and Allison Nelson opened a sales office on Victoria Street North in Kitchener, followed by a lettering plant in Waterloo. Sales grew at unprecedented rates — topping Small Business magazine's frontrunner for growth in both 1983 and 1984.
Land was purchased on Bridge Street East in the Township of Woolwich and a stand-alone manufacturing facility and showroom was built. Manufacturing commenced in the spring of 1986; the site remains our base of operations.
Three established Southwestern Ontario monument businesses joined the family. Ideal Monuments continues to operate successfully from the London location acquired through Dale Monuments.
Merrill and Eric Nelson became sole shareholders of Nelson Monuments (Atlantic Canada), Carter and Nevin Nelson of Nelson Granite, and Garth Nelson became the sole shareholder of The Stone Centre Inc.
A new showroom on Carlton Street opened to serve the St Catharines and Niagara region.
A classic cobblestone heritage house, with attached shop and showroom, joined the company when its long-time owner retired. The old shop areas have since been converted into a larger, more attractive showroom.
Three more long-standing Southwestern Ontario monument businesses joined The Stone Centre.
A Perth County operation (unrelated to the Atlantic Canada company of the same name) joined the family and underwent extensive renovation.
The former City of Cambridge Pump House was purchased, rezoned and carefully renovated — preserving its heritage designation while becoming our Cambridge showroom.
The Stone Centre Inc and the other Nelson family companies celebrated a century in business. The milestone was marked by the installation of an Allen Datagraph laser etching machine in Kitchener — at the time, the only one in Ontario set up specifically for granite.
One of Alliston's oldest continuously operating businesses joined the family. The original 1901 building in town remains a designated historic property; we are proud to carry the name forward.
Two well-established locations in the Niagara region were added, giving Glenmount Memorials access to the largest inventory of memorials in Ontario and one of the largest collections of designs in North America.
The story is still being written.
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