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Summarized by Rosemary Pollock
Alabama company chosen for Temple stone
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS -- Vetter Stone Co., located in Russellville,
Alabama, a subsidiary of Minnesota's Vetter Stone Co., has been
chosen by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide
the stone facing for the Nauvoo, Illinois Temple. The final
selection of the stone was made by church president Gordon B.
Hinckley.
"Extensive stone testing was done in the beginning, and the hardness,
durability, color, quantitiy and absence of blasting imperfections within
the quarry were considerations applied to many limestone quarries throughout
the United States and Canada," church officials reported in a written
statement.
Sample stones were tooled and submitted for consideration according to the
original design from various quarries and then shipped to Utah for the final
selection. Vetter Stone Co. is one of the nation's largest stone suppliers.
The largest stones will be shipped, each the size of small cars, to
various points, where they will be carved by a number of contractors.
Church officials reported that robotics and hand carving will be used.
KEPCO Architectural Cladding Systems Co., a Salt Lake based firm, is the
primary masonry subcontractor.
The "sunstones" will be the largest pieces weighing 2 1/2 tons each. Utah
based 3D Art Inc. is working on models of the originals along with
"moonstones" and "starstones." The work has begun on these large pieces in
Bedford, Indiana.
A large portion of the dimensioning will be done by Idaho Travertine in
Idaho Falls, and then shipped to Utah for hand design work to be done by the
State Stone Co.
Source:
Alabama company chosen for Temple stone
Burlington IA Hawk Eye 26Jul00 D1
By Stephen A. Martin
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