Chapman Monument Company owner retires after 37 years

For 37 years, the Chapman Monument Company in Roseville produced headstones, national monuments, civic memorials, and private and public art projects. Owner Gene Chapman retired after selling his business site at 800 Atlantic St., Roseville. The Chapman Monument Company sold their business location to a local contractor, and for the first time since 1880, the building will no longer be the site of a monument company. "It's been good to know that part of being in this business, a lot of times, I'm like a counselor to people," Chapman said. "I can say that I've been fortunate that I have a job that can actually bring some comfort and peace to people." The Chapman family began operating their business in 1985 at 800 Atlantic St. The business has been owned by headstone carpenters and stone carvers since 1880. According to the Chapman family, they were the fourth owners of the site and every owner up until now has managed a monument company. Since 1985, Chapman's family business has constructed thousands of memorials for generations of families, according to Chapman. Chapman has also created monuments throughout Roseville, including the Roseville Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Central Roseville welcome sign, the Roseville World War II Memorial and the Martha Riley Library's outdoor granite fountain. "This business (the Chapman Monument Company) has put 90 percent of what goes into the Roseville cemetery," Chapman said. The company created the California Department of Veteran Affairs' Medal of Honor Memorial, the National Aids Memorial Grove in San Francisco, the Hollywood "Black List" Memorial at the University of California at Los Angeles' Fisher Art Gallery, and the Sacramento County Police and Sheriff's Memorial. The Chapman Monument Company also made the engravings for Stanford University's Art Walk Project and the Sacramento Federal Courthouse entrance. After having a health scare last year, Chapman retired so he could focus on completing his private art projects, one of which is made of the same stone as Mount Rushmore, according to Chapman. Chapman also wants to focus on spending more time with his family. Chapman has eight children, several working with him in his business. Chapman's daughter, Tiffany Chapman, has managed the business' website and graphic designs, customer service and public relations. Tiffany Chapman reflected on how her family's business has helped generations of Roseville families and how parting ways with the business will be challenging. "Those families have been here (in Roseville) as long as the business has," Tiffany Chapman said. "I've made friendships with people during a hard time in their life. I'm very grateful."