Coldspring history

1900 Rockville Granite begins the century with a contract to fabricate the columns for the Rotunda of the new Minnesota State Capitol Building.

Rockville Granite Company faced stiff competition when a larger concern, the Clark and McCormick Granite Company, set up shop in 1907 and began quarrying the gray granite which was so plentiful in the area.

After the Foundry closed in 1911, Cold Spring’s prominence faded; however, following World II, a rebirth began with an influx of businesses into the Hudson River Valley and commuters to New York City.

When Henry became ill from pneumonia in 1912, 22-year-old Patrick Alexander, who had left home to work in quarries around the country and in Canada, came home and took over management of the company.

1913 Henry Alexander dies, wife Maggie and son Pat take over the business.

Coldspring had developed into a bustling county seat town by 1915, but disaster struck March 30, 1915 when the wooden courthouse burned, thus removing the economic foundation of the town.

Maggie died in 1916, and Patrick and John became the owners of Rockville Granite Company, which was valued at about $6,000, including plant, equipment, and property.

1917 Pat leaves to fight in WW1, Maggie Alexander dies, Maggie’s son John returns from college to carry on the business.

When the new stone courthouse was built in 1918, the merchants followed, leaving the old square behind.

1919 After Pat returns from the war, John and Pat Alexander consider Cold Spring, Minnesota as a new location for their granite company; business community offers financial support.

On October 5, 1920, Rockville Granite Company was incorporated with Peters as president, Patrick Alexander as vice-president, John Alexander as secretary, and Fred Stein as treasurer.

1921 Acquired Diamond Pink® quarry – first major job was the Stearns County Courthouse 6 columns.

In 1924 Rockville Granite Company became Cold Spring Granite Company.

1927 John Alexander develops plan to pursue more monument business; opens Chicago sales office and hires first national sales manager.

1928 John Alexander becomes a single parent after the death of his wife Alice.

1929 Cold Spring Granite owns four granite quarries and posts record sales of $1.3 million.

1931 The Great Depression hits home: Chicago office closes, sales manager is laid off and revenues fall for the first time.

No significant structural changes were made, though at various times, there were such additions as a two-story Sunday School Annex, built in 1939, a partial brick facade and siding.

During this time of change the company again lost its president when Patrick Alexander died in 1945 and was succeeded by his brother.

1948 Pat Alexander dies at age 57; John Alexander becomes the company’s president.

1953 Granit Bronz is born as Cold Spring Granite enters the bronze business to supply markers for the new memorial parks opening across the country.

1954 Work begins on the new United States Air Force Academy in CO.

In 1957, the company was chosen as granite supplier for the new Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

1962 Royal and Melrose Granite companies merge into one to create efficiencies.

1968: Third generation Alexander, Thomas, is named president.

After spending 18 years as a car dealership, the Cold Spring Depot Restaurant opened in 1972 and has been a restaurant ever since.

Through the changing times since 1973, the Village of Cold Spring has been unique among the Hudson River communities in retaining its fundamental character.

1976 An unprecedented boom in office building construction begins – this significantly increased the granite industry as granite became the preferred material.

1978 John Alexander’s son Pat travels to Europe with company engineers to view granite operations and technology; develops a vision for upgrading operations.

The church rolls reflect growth as new members join the descendants of those pioneers who were the founding fathers of this church. It was in he late 1980's when the need for more space became apparent due to church growth and numerous outreach programs.

The National Register of Historic Places added Cold Spring to its list in 1982.

1983 Tom Alexander retires; Patrick D. Alexander becomes President of Cold Spring Granite and begins rebuilding the company with new technology to make it more competitive.

1985 Cold Spring Granite acquires red granite quarry in Fredericksburg, TX.

In 1987 Cold Spring along with two other American granite companies filed a suit with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against Italian and Spanish granite firms.

Cold Spring acquired Capitol Marble and Granite Company, Inc., in Granite Falls, Texas, in 1988.

A long range planning committee was established and a three acre tract across Byrd Avenue was purchased in 1989.

Cold Spring Granite laid off over 400 employees in 1991 in response to a severe downturn in the construction business.

Continued diversification resulted in a drop of architectural sales to about 28 percent of business by 1995.

Leftover pollutants turned the grounds into a Superfund site until 1996.

The MonuWest facility, designed for memorial fabrications, opened in January 1997.

1998 LEAN principles are adopted using Toyota’s Kaizen methodology and a continuous improvement promotions office (CIPO) is introduced as a learning and doing function.

In 1999 the company was re-certified for the ISO 9001standard for quality management and began bolstering continuous improvement efforts with lean manufacturing and time-based management techniques.

2000 Company focus is to grow – organizational changes are made to set up vertical business units with singular responsibility for both selling and operations and a plan to enter into the rapidly expanding countertop business was begun.

The first phase of a new Foundry for finishing bronze memorials is completed on the west campus with a second phase to follow in 2002, and plans are made to add additional facilities and eventually consolidate operations on this campus over the next 15 years.

Cold Spring Granite, the largest mausoleum builder in the country, began test marketing direct sales to the public in 2004.

2005 Plans are made to accelerate the consolidation from downtown Cold Spring to the new Campus 2 1/2 miles west of Cold Spring to leverage LEAN improvements, reduce costs and increase efficiencies.

2006 The majority of the company’s operational consolidation in Cold Spring is complete with the office, support services and the quarry system to come the following year.

2007 The move into a new LEED Gold certified office headquarters is completed in November of 2007 with the support services move completed the following spring.

2008 Texas facilities are consolidated and an initiative is established to focus on better utilization of resources, increase innovation and establish new business opportunities for the quarry materials business unit.

2010 The Adams Private Estate becomes a signature project – Mr.

As of April 2011, the restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, and serves dinner Friday nights.

2012 Utility Rate Study show submenu Community

2013 Growth initiatives are beginning to take hold.

2014 Coldspring is awarded a patent for a new laser technology for their Expressions in Bronze® offering.

2016 Coldspring awarded ANSI/NSC 373 Certification Gold Fabricator for Cold Spring, MN headquarters and Platinum Quarrier for Mesabi Black®, Charcoal Black® and Rockville® quarries.

2017 John Mattke steps down as President of Coldspring and assumes a new role as a member of the Coldspring Board of Directors and President of Stone Panels International LLC. Greg Flint becomes President and COO of Coldspring.

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