Serendipity Hits Bedrock

How Persistence, Foresight and Serendipity Paid Off
By Leon White

In the happy Chorus Line are, from left to right, Leon White, Erin Rants, Gudrun Ongman and Rich Andler.
Since losing my nice stone carving space three years ago, I’ve been working in a 6′ X 8′ greenhouse for small works and in our driveway for larger works. What a pain to hose off the house and the surrounding plants after carving. I began looking for a new place to carve. Available spaces were either too expensive or next to a car dealership (imagine what stone dust would do there!) or a housing complex or they were just too far away.

In May of last year I noticed a sandwich board along the street, “Shop for Rent.” I checked it out. It was a mechanic’s shop that was too expensive and in a bad place for dust. As I drove to the back of the business to turn around, I noticed a grubby storage space that was open on the front. Two of its three bays were empty and the third had some junk in it. All of it had a cement floor. I sat in my car studying it and the surroundings. The only businesses around it were a stone landscaper, a granite-marble countertop shop and a post office mail truck parking lot. Hmmm, I would not have to worry about dust or noise here.

One of the inside work rooms with Rich Andler, Gudrun Ongman and Erin RantsVisualizing how this could be an easy remodel for a possible carving shop, I went home and did a detailed drawing before approaching the landlord so he could see what I needed. After pointing out to him that they are not using that space anyway and that this would be extra income for them, and really trying to explain “Stone Sculpture,” we negotiated the rent and what was needed to fix it up.

Well, during Camp B I happened to mention this project to someone, who mentioned it to others. Before I knew it, Gudrun Ongman, Rich Andler, and Erin Rants asked if they could be a part of the shop. This seemed like a good combination of people.

After Camp B, they all met me at the proposed shop and agreed to be associates. One of the landlord’s jack of all trades employees framed it in and enclosed the front with two wide doors, windows, electrical, and a water faucet. He enjoyed the opportunity getting away from his usual work and promised a surprise?

In mid-October I signed the lease and we started moving in. Here’s a good sweet laugh. During construction the owner asked if we wanted Linoleum! We said, “Heck no, the cement is beautiful!” He was still not sure what we do with rocks. As Rich informed him that they are called “stones,” I realized that I needed to show him my portfolio so he could see what we do with “rocks.”The unassuming, but tell-tell facade of downtown Bedrock

After working for so many years in a greenhouse and my driveway, having this 370 sq. ft. shop with a break room only ten blocks from my home, is an absolutely wonderful Godsend.
Work, change clothes, lock up and go home!

Oh yeah, the builders surprise? He glued gravel on a sign board to go over the door spelling “BEDROCK.”