This is the complete 1:08 first part of the film including the opening sequence, a brief introduction and the first chapter.
To view in smaller segments click on the tab that says
The StoneMan, in Nine Segments above.
Please click on the Credits Roll tab to see the details
about those who appeared in The StoneMan
and those whose efforts contributed to making it.
Mike I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed watching these films. They brought back so many memories. I had a rough idea about the family history, but this really added substantially to my understanding of where we came from.
Your father was a joy to be around at all times. When my family moved to the south side in 1970, I passed by the shop on my drive to Butler and I would stop and visit. He would show me what he was working on, and we would always talk politics. He had a great memory and told some interesting stories. His father, your namesake, was a State Senator during the Woodrow Wilson years .
I’m going to send a link to this to my brothers and sisters. Thank you so much for sharing your work. Well done my man.
Thank You Michael for sharing your film .
Your Pop was an awesome guy! Wish we could have met back in the day. We would have had some good laughs.
My last meeting with stone cutters Dan Whetstone and his mentor Gordon Newell of Big Sur was in Darwin CA in
1995. They both passed shortly after my visit.
We were the 3 hammers. Your Pop will be remembered this way. Should be the first? Although I think Gordon was about the same age. I will always value and treasure his craft. And his generous gift of granite tools.
I am thoroughly excited to watch this production Mike. Like Joe, I too have fond memories of Uncle Vince and the “Carrolton Corridor.”
One thing I will never forget is perusing his (and maybe your) photography magazines to be treated to the occasional and riveting nude photo. Still enjoy that every now and again;)
I am proud to report that I have, to a very small extent, followed paths I was introduced to while in the presence of your family.
I have made a living doing aerial photography of many types and also have a small business/hobby engraving garden stones for my customers. Most tend to be to commemorate pets they have lost. The computer does the heavy artistic work, so that is where the similarity ends, but I thoroughly enjoy designing creative pieces which seem quite popular.
Recent trips to Utah and Ireland, among others, have made for 1000’s of digital images which I enjoy taking perhaps more than I enjoy looking at them.
Again, thank you for documenting this subject. I just stumbled on it today, but I I will also share the link with my parents and family ASAP and can’t wait to share the story you were finally able to tell. Maybe Covid had one or two benefits.
Cheers Mike!
Mike Bowen
Mike,
Great to hear from you. Aerial photography is very cool. I did a bit of it from helicopters back in the day. Are you still in Indianapolis?
MF
I am in Noblesville, so basically “yes.”
My immediate family, including Eileen and Dave are gathering at a lake house in Tennessee next week for a family vacation. We will share your film there. SO looking forward to it.
I am inspired by your efforts to document our experiences as well. Thank you for that.
Michael,
I believe you finished the filmings of your father shortly before we met. On the road trips together for the films on which we collaborated, and again over the years since, you told of your feeling that you had some footage of real value from those Indianapolis shoots, value beyond a plain family history. I now know why you felt that, and I am glad you were compelled to make “The StoneMan.” It is a gem.
Over the past few days I got to see Vince Farrell in action, with all of his craftsmanship, wit, wisdom, and unwavering ethical compass ever on display. It was a pleasure. He truly was a man for all seasons. Thanks for giving us enough time to let the story breathe as it unfolded, a principle you explained to me many years ago.
I am now slightly older than Vince was at the time you filmed him, so I have a visceral understanding of why the strength he needed to continue working on stone was issued slowly and deliberately.
Straight ahead,
Steve Robbins
Mike,
The attempt to watch the film together in TN did not work out due to insufficient router capacity. Perhaps fitting for a vacation home.
That said, last night was the night. We gathered here at my home and placed Eileen in a “front row seat.” Popcorn was provided. Admittedly, some wondered if they would appreciate a three hour presentation about someone they had either never met or barely remember, especially children and spouses.
Within minutes, all of us, to a person, were riveted to Vince. Everything about him made us laugh frequently and tear up occasionally. We did not miss a word. He was a genuinely lovely person and found a way to speak his mind without ever leaving any doubt about where he stood or any ill will towards anything or anyone.
I was particularly smitten as I see a lot of him in me. His many insights and philosophies, from family to politics and religion ring true with me. Not to mention our shared experiences with sandblasting and photography. I was absolutely amazed to see his sketches turn in to finished stones having been cut by hand. A talent I do NOT share. I may have an eye for a design, but a plotter does the delicate work of cutting the rubber stencil for me.
We also marveled at the serendipitous exchange between Vince and his customers both while placing their order and their subsequent, squeamish attempt to explain their reneging. What a joy to experience human interaction at its finest and watch a gentleman deal with a “bump in the road” so diplomatically, yet firmly.
Today, I visited the monument shop here in Noblesville where I have become quite close with the family who own and operate it. They cut my stencils for me, so I see them frequently. I explained how germane much of the StoneMan was to me and would be for them. I have shared the link and I am certain they will spend time with it. History is a fascinating thing.
Please accept our profound gratitude for your vision and effort. Although I know this was meant as, and certainly is, a wonderful gift for yourself and tribute to your talents; your “Alpha and Omega,” it is truly so much more. We are forever indebted for the opportunity to relive not only the memories we have, but more importantly, the gift of understanding our family heritage and the history of our previous generations.
There are many good lessons for young and old and I believe we all learned some last night.
God Bless and please stay in touch!!
The Bowen/Kirk Family
What a wonderfully educational and entertaining documentary! My great-grandfather was a stonecutter at the granite quarries in Westerly, RI. My sister now serves on the Board of the Babcock-Smith House Museum in Westerly, which is collecting and preserving the history of the Westerly quarries and the men who worked there. Westerly granite was used across the country and I wonder if your Dad ever had the occasion to carve it. As a side note, I had the pleasure of learning letter cutting and low relief carving (on slate), with a hand chisel and mallet, from a current gravestone hand carver in Foster, RI. I can empathize with your Dad’s comment about the diminishing number of hand carvers. I have since passed my tools along to a younger person, teaching them the basics and hoping they will carry the craft forward. Thank you for taking the time to capture your Dad’s story on film and to share it with the rest of us!
Sarah,
Thanks for your comments. I know that Pop used Westerly granite because I’d heard him talk about it. I’m pretty sure I have some little samples of the stone around somewhere. I saved a lot of that sort of thing when we closed down the shop. I’m glad you like the film and took the time to write. Feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues.
Michael Farrell
Hi Mike,
My name is Andrew Noland, I live in Milan, MI. I retired last year and started, yes, started, working for a 4th generation stonemason in Wyandotte, MI. Being able to watch this is really enjoyable and wanted to say thank you for making it! I would’ve liked to have met your dad! A lot of what he did I have learned in the last 7 months. Alas, I am not a young man anymore, not sure how your dad did all that at his age! I’m “retiring” again at the end of this month, but will be helping the family out from time to time as workers are in short supply.
Thank you again for sharing your great family story!
Andrew,
Thanks for your comments. And for taking the time to watch the film. Pop always said you’re only as old as you feel. And that stood him in good stead until he was 84, the year he finally said, “I’m done.” I hope to keep it together that long myself.
Michael Farrell
Mike,
What an incredible story, I am fascinated with this type of work and always have been. My ears really perked up when I heard the name McGowan mentioned as I am a McGowan. My wife and I have visited the Civil War Monument in Indianapolis and were involved with the bronze preservation work on the Iowa Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument in Des Moines , Iowa in the late 90’s. There were many facets of your fathers story that I felt a connection to. Thank you so much for putting it all together and sharing it with us all.
With great respect,
Brad McGowan
Brad,
Thanks for taking the time to write. As a kid I was fascinated by the Civil War. A couple of years ago I was able to visit Gettysburg and Antietam for the first time. Pop was also a history buff. Even though he didn’t have much education he lived through some incredible times in our nation’s history and was always able to relate the challenges of the present to those of the past. I wonder what he’d have to say about our current circumstances…?
MF