HISTORY

Creating Memories In Stone

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In the early 1920’s, Mr. Carl Heumann came to Canada from Germany and worked for Caspar Braun, a Kitchener stone mason and building contractor. Mr. Heumann was experienced in the manufacture of architectural artificial stone used on buildings. In 1924 he, with capital provided by William Mitchell and M.B. Shantz, formed the company known as Superior Stone Company at 528 Victoria Street North, Kitchener, Ontario.
In 1928, Elven Shantz, brother of MB Shantz, and Alson Weber, a nephew of the Shantz’s, joined the company as employees. In 1931 Mr. Heumann left the company to start a similar operation, located in Kingston, Ont. Elven Shantz became the manager of Superior Stone Co. and Alson Weber was the company’s draftsman.
In 1937, Mr. Mitchell sold the company to four employees: Elven Shantz, Alson Weber, Frank Tremain and Ernie Tremain. Frank Tremain was a skilled granite cutter, so the company soon began to produce granite cemetery memorials as a sideline to the building stone business. Braun Monuments and Twin City Monument Co., local competitors, were purchased by Superior Stone Ltd. in 1941 and 1953. In 1946 Alson Weber’s father, Irvin, joined the company as an employee.
In 1952, the company started to manufacture concrete burial vaults. The vaults are supplied through local funeral directors. This part of the business has grown significantly since 1952.
On the retirement of the Tremains and Elven Shantz, Alson Weber became sole owner of the company in 1962. On his retirement in 1974, the company was purchased by his son, John Weber and an employee, Alex Whorwood.
At that stage, due to changing circumstances relating to production of precast concrete architectural units, the decision was made to discontinue the building stone business in favour of expanding the memorial business.
Decorative precast stone produced by Superior Stone Ltd., can be seen on hundreds of buildings in both southern and northern Ontario. Local examples would be: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, King & Queen Streets, Forest Heights Collegiate, Eastwood Collegiate, Sheppard School, Elizabeth Ziegler School, St. John’s and St. Anne’s RC Churches, Holy Cross Church, K-W Hospital, Kitchener Public Library and many other buildings.
In 1974 & 1976 Superior Memorials expanded by purchasing Farnworth Superior Memorials in Guelph and Dumfries Superior Memorials in Cambridge.

In 1989 Donna & John Weber became the sole owners of Superior Memorials.

In 1995, John-Michael Weber, son of John and Donna, joined the company, marking the 4th generation of Weber family involvement in the business.
In 1999, Superior Memorials celebrated it's 75th year.
In, 2000, John-Micheal Weber became a shareholder in the company.
In 2002, John-Michael Weber became the sole owner of Superior Memorials

Also in 2002 Superior Memorials expanded into the Harriston area by purchasing Harriston Superior Monuments.
In 2017, John-Michael purchased Stratford Memorials and it's branches, expanding our locations to include Stratford, Listowel, Woodstock, Exeter and Goderich.