About Us
Our Story
Ramos Statuary, New England Stone, Georgia Stone, Granites of America
Lived by Tony Ramos, Written by Toni Ramos
Chapter I
The story begins in Portugal, where Tony Ramos left school at the age of 11. At work in a marble shop, Mr. Ramos became fascinated with the marble sculptors and how they could turn a block of stone into art. At the age of 17 Mr. Ramos moved with his family to the United States of America, where, not knowing a word of English, he found a job carving stone for Castelluci & Sons.
After 5 years, Mr. Ramos had saved enough to fulfill his dream of owning his own business. In 1965 Mr. Ramos constructed a 1,000 square foot building on Branch Pike in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Ramos Statuary hand carved statues, monuments, and intricate detailed work for large buildings. Those 1,000 square feet have grown substantially as Mr. Ramos has kept his office in the same location to this day.
Chapter II
One job Mr. Ramos was working on required Deer Isle® granite. The stone was nearly impossible to get as the quarry had been shut down for some time after bankruptcy. After a visit to Deer Isle, Mr. Ramos was able to finish his job. However, Mr. Ramos could not stand the haunting vision of that abandoned quarry. This exact quarry produced some of the greatest architectural structures of our nation; from the base of the Empire State Building to Radio City, Rockefeller Plaza, the George Washington Bridge, and the Kennedy Memorials in Arlington, the list goes on. It was a sin to let the quarry float forgotten and abandoned on the shore of Maine. He purchased the quarry in approximately 1979. The transition from carving to quarries had begun as New England Stone was born.
As his jobs grew to larger projects, Mr. Ramos would visit quarries around the country in his purchase of blocks. Mr. Ramos purchased Georgia Granite when it came up for sale in 1986. Along with this acquisition came the Sequoya, Missouri Red, Jet Mist®, and Kershaw® quarries; Georgia Stone Industries was born. Using Kershaw®, Missouri Red, and Sequoya/Dakota Mahogany Mr. Ramos fabricated the second half of Southwest Bell in St. Louis, Missouri. This project alone amassed approximately 485,000 square feet. He completed the work at his newly acquired fabrication plant in Georgia.
Chapter III
The growth, acquisitions, and preservation of quarries continued with Mr. Ramos’ purchase of Fletcher Granite in 2010. This historic company pioneered the granite industry in its bridge, curbing, and building work, including the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, DC (Chelmsford) and the National Archives Building in Washington, DC (Milford Pink). Mr. Ramos could not stand by and let Fletcher’s quarries be buried, lost, and forgotten. These quarries include Tapestry, Kitledge, Milford Pink, Addison Black and Madison Pink.
Mr. Ramos continued to quarry and fabricate daily. His pure passion for art, architecture and engineering stood firm at the center of all he built.
His wife Ann Marie presided as his Chief Financial Officer and oversaw block sales. Their daughter Toni served as her father’s personal assistant and right-hand man.
Tony Ramos returned to his Lord and Maker in September 2024. For the previous two years Toni interviewed her father as they co-wrote his autobiography. She continues to write the biography and asks anyone who knew her father to contact her to share their story. Ann Marie and Toni continue to ensure Tony’s empire flourishes for decades to come; all of his quarries continue to operate, and his granites remain available for purchase.
