A Monumental Business: Mathias Monuments, More Than 100 Years on Main Street

Mathias Monuments has been a constant on Main Street in Westminster for more than a century. Owner George Irwin and his wife Marilyn said they have worked to keep the same rigorous business standards that were passed on to them from the Mathias family.

Irwin purchased the business from the Mathias family in 1988. In addition to maintaining the same commitment to how the business is run, Irwin also kept on many of the employees when he purchased the business.

“We keep things running the same," Irwin said. "Although, things have slowed in the community with the fall of the economy … it used to be packed up and down Main Street, now it seems empty.”

Irwin points out in an old photograph, taken at the businesse's original location a block west and on the opposite side of the street, that the biggest change to the business is in the tombstones themselves.

The old tombstones were carved from marble, a softer stone, Irwin said. The intricate details in the stones were all crafted and sculpted by hand. Today, most headstones are made from granite, a much harder stone that requires modern sandblasting equipment to sculpt.

“The old boys probably wouldn’t have been able to sculpt granite with their tools at all," Irwin said. "But if you go down to the Westminster cemetery, and see what’s left of the marble ones, you can tell why granite became the preferred stone".

Irwin said the shape of the stones has also changed over the years.

“You don’t see those tall, intricate ones very much anymore,” Irwin said, again pointing out the markers in the old photograph. “Nowadays, most of them are more square and flat.”

Irwin also sounded a bit wistful as he explained that most of the stones used in the tomstone businesses today come from India and China.   

Mathias Monuments, named and owned by Joseph L. Mathias, was purchased from the Beaver family in 1906. The Mathias family was well established in the community; Mathias even served as the mayor of Westminster from 1942 to 1963. 

Irwin said other changes in the business over the years have included more personalization on tombstones and the practice of people purchasing tombstones in advance.

As for challenges to running the business, Irwin said more people are choosing cremation and funeral homes and cemeteries are now selling monuments, increasing Irwin's competition.

Despite the challenges though, the Irwins are proud to own and operate a business that deals in objects with so much sentimental value to individuals and their loved ones. 

They said they plan to continue to do their part in the community, for however many more years that they are able and needed.