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Stone History and a History in Natural Stone

As Mike Stone says, "It's not just our name it's our business".

Many people over the years have remarked on my last name. Some are surprised; suggesting that it means my trade was predestined. A few people doubt that my last name really is Stone, but it is – and I've been laying natural stone for over 40 years. Now I own a stone wholesale and retail store called Stone Haven – and it's based on my name as well as the natural stone trade I love. So I thought it would help visitors to learn more about the background behind my name and business.

The Stone Legacy

The Stone family has a deeply ingrained love of stonework. I'm a fourth generation natural stone layer. I started working with my father, Irvin, shortly after I turned 12. Irvin was the third generation of stone layers in our family. Our history making stone retaining walls, stone steps and other natural stone features dates to not long after we came up to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. My great-great-grandfather George was a renowned stonemason, ranging between Quebec and Boston in the late 1800s to ply his trade when that kind of travel was far more difficult and dangerous than it is today. He even had to carry a revolver on the road to stay safe!

So to say that stone is in my blood would be an understatement!

My Start in the Stone Trade

I started working during summer holidays from school. I learned how to build stone retaining walls and New England stone walls (double faced walls). My father taught me was that the strength of a stone wall came first. Its beauty would follow.

At 16 I took over my father’s business. In those days I did a little bit of everything: landscaping properties, laying sod, building walls, laying patio stones, planting trees and shrubs – I can't tell you everything I did. I eventually specialized in stone walls, patios and walkways. Laying natural stone for them became a passion of mine. I usually worked mostly by myself, so that created a number of challenges. Needless to say, it can be daunting to start a New England wall 900 feet long and 3 feet high by yourself! I learned to work square foot by square foot, keeping pace until I reached the end – and met my deadline. That's how I managed a successful career specializing as a stone layer for 40 years.

The Birth of Stone Haven

By 2002, I knew it was time for a change. Stone laying is back breaking work. After a total of 40 years of landscaping and stone laying I knew it was time to get away from a trade so physically demanding.

I knew there was a demand for stone wholesalers and retailers. In all my years laying stone, I found what I used to build walls wherever I could find it, from farmers' fields to old walls on properties that people wanted torn down. For patios, I needed to head to a quarry miles away. I wanted to create a better way for architects, landscapers, builders and even do it yourself types to get natural stone for their projects.

We rented a storefront with a small property attached, and in a year, expanded to a one acre lot. Three years later we built again on 3.5 acres. We're now the largest natural stone wholesaler/retailer in Quebec. My expertise makes it possible to help those who wish to do the work themselves and make product available to landscapers, stone layers and masons.

Now that we've expanded our sales into Ontario and Newfoundland, our stone yard has grown to offer a large variety of stone to choose from. Our stone comes from Quebec, Ontario, Brazil, China, Pennsylvania, Colorado and beyond. We have stone for patios, walkways, steps, driveways, buildings and interior work. The stone yard features numerous examples of how to use our stone in steps, retaining walls, New England walls and more to help people imagine the end result on their property. We have lovely gardens and sitting areas for people to quietly consider their projects, all to help bring in clients from all walks of life.

Stonework is my passion. I still do it, though these days; I mostly stick to projects on my own property. The passion is about creating with my hands, like painting a picture, and I hope I can share it with you through our natural stone.