Stone at Turlock Marble & Granite

A little over 4 months after leaving Haugesund in southwest Norway, the Slooper bautastein arrives at its initial destination in the San Joaquin Valley, California. This trip took a month longer than the voyage to America of the Norwegian sloop Restoration in 1825. Like the sloop's epic adventure, the trip of the stone was met with detours, complications and delays. Like the Sloop, the stone met governmental bureaucratic problems upon arrival. It spent some time collecting US Customs storage fees until the paperwork problems could be resolved. With the help of folks at East Bay Granite of Oakland, the stone arrived at Turlock Marble & Granite Works on October 30th, 2003. There, in the good hands of a Norwegian-American owned monument firm, it will be processed, engraved and readied for placement at the Napa Tulocay Cemetery in the spring of 2004. All employees of this local business will be involved in this project. (Photos taken Nov. 7, 2003)


The front of the Turlock Marble & Granite Works (TMG) monument shop on the busy main street in Turlock.	This family owned business demonstrates its Nordic heritage with some of stone carver Ira Kessey's work in front.	*In the back of the shop lies the bautastein* recently arrived from Norway.**	Shop owner Stewart Saugstad & Keith (foreground) discuss plans for the stone; Stewart's wife Jo (2nd from right) gives input.

Behind the stone during this planning discussion is friend & artistic consultant Cyndi Hilton-Geary and TMG team member Martin Gonzalez.	*Another view of the 9 foot long bautastein* as it sits in its crate in the rear of the large Turlock shop.**	Gathering for a group photo in front of the shop are members of the TMG team & involved friends.	Rear left to right: TMG team member Gus Hurtado; stone carver & TMG team member Ira Kessey; TMG owners Jo & Stewart Saugstad; mascot Jaiden with TMG dad Michael Ruch. Front L to R: friend Cyndi & TMG team member Martin Gonzalez.