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Carrying On the Petrillo Stone Legacy for 45 Years

A milestone in any career, I am now celebrating my 45th year continuing the legacy of my family’s stone business, Petrillo Stone Corporation out of Mount Vernon, New York. I joined the firm after graduating college, in the Spring of 1979. The History & the Legacy The business was started by my Grandfather, Anthony T. Petrillo in 1907. My grandfather, uncle (August P. Petrillo), and father (John A. Petrillo) ran the company until the 1970s. During their reign, they were involved in some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious stone projects. Some of the larger projects that they were…

Exploring The Many Uses of Stone

As a stoneworker, I have witnessed the timeless elegance and enduring strength that stone brings to various construction and design projects. From historic monuments to modern residential structures, stone has left an indelible mark on our architectural landscape, showcasing its incredible versatility. I am excited to explore the many applications of stone in masonry and share some insights with you. Here are some ways we utilize stone for both businesses and homes: Facades: Stone facades radiate sophistication and offer endless customization options. Whether adorning homes or commercial buildings, the natural allure of stone elevates curb appeal and leaves a lasting…

Hand-Carved Brownstone for the Palace Hotel in New York City

Recently, I was able to put my skills, knowledge, and years of experience to use carving beautiful Brownstone features for the Palace Hotel in New York City. Commissioned for this job because of my professionalism and reputation, I was honored to be able to put the Petrillo mark in such a beautiful and historical location. Carving Brownstone Brownstone, sometimes called ‘freestone’ is honestly one of my favorite stones to use for carving. Not only does this stone have a rich history in early American construction – but carving into this stone feels like carving into butter. Back in the late…

Hand-Carving a Tracery Window at Fort Washington Collegiate Church in Manhattan

I absolutely love historic stonework, especially when it comes to churches and colleges that pre-date even the founding fathers. This last month, we were able to work on the Fort Washington Collegiate Church in Manhattan by hand-carving a tracery window. While this specific building was erected in 1907, it is actually a part of a much bigger group of churches, called the Collegiate Churches of New York. These churches date as far back as 1623. It’s All in the Details A church with that much history demands detail and attention with any addition or renovation. My time was well spent,…

3 Things You Need to Know About Stonemasonry

Driving down the east coast, it is hard for me to look away from all of the history and beautiful architecture around me. This country, and most civilizations around the world, have something in common with one another. 70% were built with stone. From their churches, their monuments, and their homes to their schools, streets, and the foundation of the civilization itself. Stonemasonry has been around for thousands of years. As I reflect back on the history of Petrillo Stone, it is very gratifying to be a part of such an important part of history. There are a lot of…

Stonework From Around the World

By now, it should be well known that I love neat facts, history, and stonemasonry. This month, I decided to combine those loves and post about some of my favorite stonework from around the world. Enjoy! English Cathedral Stonework Some of the most eye-catching pillars of architecture from the old world are the cathedrals stamped across England. One of the most noteworthy for stonemasons, such as our team at Petrillo Stone, is the Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter. Exeter is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the…

Ralph Petrillo Celebrates 40 Years in the Family Business, Continuing a 111 Year Legacy

Ralph Petrillo, the co-owner of Petrillo Stone, recently celebrated 40 years in business, while his business is celebrating year 111. Petrillo’s grandfather, Antonio T. Petrillo, founded the company in 1907 after emigrating to Mount Vernon, NY from Italy. With him, he brought knowledge of traditional masonry techniques–the type of time-honored methods that set the craft apart. Even as masonry evolves, many of its aspects remain, some withstanding for longer than a century. Ralph Petrillo describes his business as “a glue that binds three generations and their technologies, workmanship, and ideologies.” After founding the company, Antonio Petrillo passed his knowledge onto…

Another Favorite Stone Landmark: Machu Picchu

It’s impossible to study masonry without falling in love with some of the ancient stone landmarks. These breath-taking, iconic structures withstand the test of time, many are hundreds of years old. Not too long ago, I wrote about one of my favorite stone buildings, Edinburgh Castle. Another of my favorites is Machu Picchu, located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru. An Ancient Incan Artifact From Quechuan, an ancient indigenous language, Machu Picchu translates to “old peak.” Historians believe it was built between 1450 and 1460, during the rule of two Inca rulers, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui and Túpac Inca Yupanqui.  Most archaeologists agree that Pachacutec ordered…

Ralph Petrillo Visits New 9/11 Memorial in Greenwich, CT

This week is the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and is understandably an emotional time for people across our nation. This is the time of year where we stop to remember the lives lost in those tragic attacks, as well as come together in a show of patriotism. This was especially true when our very own Ralph Petrillo visited the construction site of the new September 11th Memorial in Greenwich, CT in Cos Cob Park. On September 11, 2001, 32 people with ties to Greenwich, CT were killed. The names of these individuals have been incorporated into the…

Update on the Comcast Building Project

In this post is a photo of one of the many stones ( Deer Island Granite  ) that Petrillo Stone Corporation fabricated for the Comcast Building (formerly the G E Building). We originally described this project in an earlier blog post. In addition to fabricating the stone, we also gold leafed the carved letters and logo by hand. Ralph Petrillo was the project manager on this project. He oversaw the fabrication and gold leafing of this project, as well as made sure everything ran smoothly and on time. Although the stones were completed a few months ago, the official unveiling of…

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