Tennessee Marble
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www.slipperyrockgazette.net VOLUME 19, ISSUE 226 THE BEACON OF THE STONE INDUSTRY MAY 2013 Tennessee Marble Company Celebrating 20 Years of Operation and Excellence HAT Tennessee Marble by Joel Davis Company sells is not Quarry Photos by Joel Davis; 1910 Harris County just stone – it’s perma- Courthouse photo by Nash Baker Photography nence and beauty in a Additional Photos by Tennessee Marble Company disposable world. Top: Recognized with a 2013 Pinnacle Award for Excellence, the restoration of the Harris Based in Friendsville, Tennessee, the County courthouse was an immense undertak- 20-year-old company brings the legacy of ing, in which Tennessee Marble cut and fab- the historical East Tennessee marble industry ricated bookmatched panels of the supplied Georgia Pearl Grey marble, working with firmly into present and capitalizes on the Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd. of Houston, timeless elements of the stone. Texas on the restoration. “We offer North America the opportunity to use domestic stone,” said the company’s Below: Tower Oaks, Maryland completed in 2007, features flooring and walls of Endsley President Monica J. Gawet. “We are like Pink marble, in a polished finish. hundreds of fabricators who work everyday to create art that functions. Our product is Inset: Monica Gawet and foreman Steve Kerr quarried, fabricated and installed primarily discuss the blocks being produced at the re- here in the U.S. and often, the product is part opened Granox quarry. of a historic building.” The modern Knox County Metropolitan region, which includes Blount County, was the site of a marble industry that thrived through the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. This is a source of pride for Gawet. “It’s a good feeling to know that our marble is part of history and that as long as 100 years ago, Tennessee marble was used in flooring wainscot, stairs, and exteriors, and that an owner or architect thought the stone worthy of being kept or restored, or even added to,” she said. “In this disposable world, this is something that can create a sense of accomplishment more than 100 years ago led the company in and satisfaction. To know that other families a new direction. like mine, whether they were quarry owners “We extract from four Tennessee quarries or not, labored to take raw stone from the now,” she said. “These quarries are extreme- ground and turn it into something that is ly challenging. There are large open seams inherent in the deposits along with natural Photo Courtesy Tennessee Marble fractures and color ranges that make recovery IN THIS ISSUE beautiful and durable is a satisfying thing for Her family’s involvement in the marble extremely low.” In our cover feature Slippery Rock writer Joel me personally.” industry dates back to 1919, but it had never Still, the quarry operations are only part Davis interviews Monica Gawet, President of Gawet has a family history in the stone operated any quarries. This was new territory. of the advantages that Tennessee Marble Tennessee Marble Company, celebrating their industry, but she only became involved “Honestly, when the acquisition was made Company offers. “The success we found is in 20th anniversary this year. in 1993 when she helmed the acquisition in 1993, the intent was to be mainly a fabri- being vertically integrated,” Gawet said. In Rock Stars Among Us, Tom McNall presents of a defunct stone production facility in cator,” Gawet said. “We had no experience “Trying to be a block supplier from these Scott Lardner’s story. Friendsville. “My dad was looking to expand operating any quarries, but a large project at quarries would be impossible, in my opin- We conclude the MIA Pinnacle Awards with the business to see what opportunities were Grand Central Terminal in New York City ion. The vertical integration is what makes Part 2, and include the Migliore Award for sig- out there. This was a beautiful, almost brand required us to quarry new blocks for the East it possible in terms of bringing product to nificant contribution to the Stone Industry. new facility unlike anything in the country. I Grand Stair. So in 1996, we started quarry market. One of our taglines is ‘From quarry to …Enjoy our insightful industry advice and saw it could be a great opportunity and a great operations exclusively in the lower Dark Rose crate.’ We can control the whole process from product reviews written by fabricators, in- challenge. I did not intend to get involved in layer. The rest is history.” extracting the stone to working with clients.” stallers and industry professionals to help the family business. It was something that Quarrying marble to match the stone used in The formula has proven to be successful. increase your bottom line. happened. It was fate.” the construction of the Grand Central Terminal Continued on page 2 Shop www.braxton-bragg.com for Stone & Tile industry products Visit www.slipperyrockgazette.net for more Stone & Tile industry news | 2 MAY 2013 SLIPPERY ROCK GAZETTE ENNESSEE ARBLE O TCelebrating 20 Years of M Operation and Excellence C . Far left: Completed in 2010, interior and exterior projects for the Ritz Carlton, Charlotte, N.C. feature flooring stone using Light Rose Tennessee marble laid in a diamond matched pat- tern, with a Cedar border. Exterior uses a Veined Cedar with a honed finish. Above: Benetti Wire saw in operation at the historic Granox quarry, producing blocks of Quaker Gray. Below: There are numerous regional and federal structures graced with Tennessee marble, from local municipal build- ings in Knox and Blount Counties, to national landmarks. These graded blocks are destined for Washington, D.C. Ritz Carton Photos Courtesy Tennessee Marble (2) Joel Davis (3) Continued from page 1 includes more than 100,000 square feet of man- “I really have to thank the Marble Institute the 1800 F Street modernization project for ufacturing space. Its Endsley location provides of American and my building stone industry the U.S. Government Accountability Office, “We are celebrating our 20th year and I am very another 20,000. Between the two plants, the colleagues,” Gawet said. “I value their devotion which involves providing Quaker Gray marble, proud to reach this milestone,” Gawet said. “In company fields three gang saws, three Standish to the industry and what they do. They have with contract installation by Rugo Stone. The so many ways, I can’t believe it has been 20 stationary belt saws, two polishing lines, four always provided support and encouragement to company is also supplying pink marble for the years. We’re fortunate to have several people GMM saws, and a Breton tile line. me. It’s an incredible and unique industry we’re exterior and interior of the Center for Strategic who have been with us all 20 years and their “We produce tile from several domestic all involved in.” International Studies. skills and talents made this anniversary possible. quarries here and collaborate with other block Over the years, TMC has contributed to many The demand hasn’t stopped at the borders of We employ 40 people: eight staff in the quarries, producers like Georgia Marble for fabrica- projects of national and regional significance: it the continent, Gawet said. “The farthest away six in administration and 21 in the plant. We’ve tion,” Gawet said. “Many of projects each year provided 25,000 square feet of pink marble for Tennessee marble (Quaker Grey) has gone made two acquisitions in the past 10 years; one will involve tile or paving production as well the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center; stone for the is Asia. And not just a little – close to 15,000 was the Champlain black quarry in Vermont and as dimensional stone. So when we have a East Grand; stone for the Knoxville Convention square feet over several years.” the most recent, five years ago, was the purchase multi-faceted project involving cut to size and Center; pink diamond book-matched flooring Tennessee Marble Company also supports of the assets of Tennessee Valley Marble, which flooring, the client can receive all these products for the Ritz Carlton; and 15,000 square feet of projects local to the East Tennessee region. were comprised of the Endsley quarry and a from one producer.” Georgia Pearl marble for the 1910 Courthouse In Knoxville, it contributed flooring to the small plant.” Recently, Tennessee Marble Company project. University of Tennessee Law Library, and its Gawet praises her employees. “I’ve got peo- received its second Marble Institute of America Gawet also points out a few unique, small stone was used in the university’s Howard H. ple who have been with me for 20 years,” she Pinnacle Award of Excellence. The project was projects to which her company has contributed: Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. In Blount said. “I feel I have a strong and multi-faceted known as 1910 Harris County Courthouse. “It’s a block of stone supplied to an artist for New County, where the company is based, it provid- staff. Everybody here is important for what they a Beau Arts building in Houston, Texas, that Mexico’s Po’Pay statue at Statuary Hall in the ed marble for the Maryville Municipal Building contribute – 90% of our staff are local people was completely transformed on the interior,” U.S. Capitol and the marble base, sculpted by interior flooring and the grand stairway at the from Blount and Knox Counties. Training is an Gawet said. “Painstaking efforts were made to Rugo Stone, for the Ronald Reagan statue also Clayton Center for Performing Arts at Maryville important part of what we do.” restore wood, glass, plaster and marble elements in the Capitol.