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Mountaineer Stone
Natural Stone Supply & Stone Walling Contractor |
Contact: sales@mountaineerstone.com (570) 549-2203 phone |
 North-Central Pennsylvania based stone waller James A. Asbury and his company, Mountaineer Stone, have turned many stone project ideas into reality, mostly in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Mountaineer Stone has created basic and complex, the practical and the abstract. One factor is common in all of James' work. Stone is his Passion. Combining the simple element of only dry stones, and the repetitive act of lifting and placing, Asbury has found a love of creating unique, eye-catching structures. This portfolio page is intended to capture the projects that he loves most, and not all of his work, but his most personal.  "Practical structures in the most impractical of locations, that's as fun as it comes." This project included many loads of random stones dropped on site, then gathered one ton at a time for a random, hand picked feel. Motivated by the rustic walls of New England, the concept was to create a wall that would look older than the existing landscape around the house. This Sheep Creep was added to further give the impression of an aged wall past its use. “ I wake up every day and say, I can’t believe I get paid to do what I love.” Alumni Achievement award speech, May 2006  Stone can be pushed to its limits as in this bridge constructed of heavy rip rap from local quarries.
Many (landscapers) would prefer to use flat, thin stones, but in this project Asbury forces the viewer to look twice, not only wondering if the structure has additional supports, but to question the random shapes, conformed to this shape.“Calaharis” bridge is only stone, without bonding. The bridge has survived 2 major rains which pushed much fast moving water through the 8 foot deep passage.  “When two stones match up just right, when you feel that perfect fit in your hands, that is a simple pleasure only a waller knows.” Asbury finds relaxation in a feeling that comes with a good day of work when everything, or almost everything, goes in right. “There is nothing better than when the stones fit together and break the way I want them to,” he says.Even in a driving rain storm, his customers have noted his enjoyment in building walls with stones. “I’m happy to think that some of my projects will be used, not just looked at.”  Many wallers agree that stonework has a signature. If the work is stressed, if the project was hurried or done under negative
circumstance, it will be reflected in the work for
as long as the structure stands. Asbury feels that what one might think to be a most unfavorable work experience is sometimes made into a positive one with the help of the right stone and positive work conditions. Positive outlooks reflect in the final outcome of his creations.“Mercy Gate is a project that I worked very hard at.” Perhaps too hard. The stones in this project are very heavy. Stone selected for this work also exhibited a promise to be organized so they were shaped and set very formally during the construction. Mercy Gate was constructed for a medical professional , hence the name.... so Asbury strongly felt the creation must have a feel of formality and order as opposed to other work done intended to reflect farm walls built to show realistic age.  This Loop or twist of stonewas first the brain child of Asbury's friend, John Shaw-Rimmington of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Canada. When Asbury saw it in StoneXus Magazine, he looked at the pictures for a very long time, constructing the work in his mind. According to the article, the original idea had been constructed during an indoor workshop and removed. So when Asbury had a chance to work with students at Penn college he had to test the theory for himself. Could the Loop be reconstructed permanently? Could it be left outdoors in our zone? With many thanks to John, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Asbury was very pleased to see this shape could be repeated. As always he gives a title to his work.  This is Asbury’s Tribute to Knowledge. “Over the many days it took to construct this project I thought of my own parents and how they enforced the value of learning and always pushed me in my work and education,” Asbury commented to his fellow instructors.  "I had the privilege of traveling in my career, and I hope to have much more. Who would want to stay in the same place every day?" This was a dry stone folly constructed for onlookers at the PANTS show in Atlantic City, New Jersey,in July 2006.  Asbury asked his good friend and fellow waller Stuart Joynt, a native of Kentucky, to work with him at the PANTS show. Many who have worked with Stuart will tell you he is a very good mason. The two met at a walling workshop/test in Paris, Kentucky. Asbury says, "Not only is he a great mason with a good work ethic, but he can also juggle 3 rocks at once. A great skill if you ever need to draw a crowd."  Four tri-axle dump trucks of stone were used to construct this wall over the course ofa summer. The complete work is over 80 yards long. The project was intended to give the feeling of age to the property, as if the wall predated the structure. Walling in the yard, and converting it into a meadow, also gave a more laid back feeling to the property and added play space for a very spoiled Snoodle named Lily. When completed, the lawn area was left to grow wild flowers which are native to the area, giving it the look of an abandoned sheep pasture. Sometimes your dream view is not located in the flattest place.  That is why over 30 loads of stone were used in this project, done early in Asbury's
Career. The task was to give use to a steep lawn that was almost unusable. By building solid retaining walls of stone, the lawn was
given a new use.“I’m proud of this early work to this very day. The home owner was a great role model to me. He taught me a lot about self-employment. At that time I was still new to all the requirements of contracting, people skills, time management, and stone. It’s my largest job to date by volume and I still love to drive past and look up at the walls.”
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