History
It was the Summer of 1895 when Louis Schmidt sold his first monument
from what was then Marshfield Marble and Granite. In his first year, he
sold monuments to 20 families. The burial related business began on
the same downtown location as today’s version on South Central Avenue.
The original shop and retail store is where the display lot is now. The
current building at 435 South Central Avenue was opened in 1949.
Schmidt employed two men, Ed Beck and John Rhodes. Rhodes
eventually bought the business from its founder in 1938. It remained in
the Rhodes family until 1977 when Cliff Craft and John Hopperdietzel
purchased it.
John and Joyce Hopperdietzel bought out Craft’s shares of the
business in 1984. Their son, Brian, is now a business partner
in the company. Marshfield Monument currently services 800
to 1,000 families.
The tools of the monument trade have been altered by over
100 years of technology. Years ago, everything was done by
hand. All the
monument
designs were
drawn by hand
and engraved
into the marker
with a hammer
and chisel. Now most of the markers are designed with a computer
and engraved by sandblasting. However, technology doesn’t
substitute for everything. Some markers are still designed and
engraved on the stone by hand. Jet Black Granite offers the ability
to hand etch complex designs and portraits.
Contact us today.
Established Monument Company
Since 1895
Locally owned & operated