Barnett Memorials, nestled in the growing community of Elbridge, N.Y., was founded in 1974 as a family business by Kenneth and Elizabeth Barnett. Ken was born and raised in Cabot,vVermont, a small hamlet neighboring Barre, one of the largest granite producing areas in the United States.
Ken's nephew, Buddy, a designer and CEO at the Barre Memorial Manufacturing quarry, urged Ken to open a memorial business from his home on Hamilton Road. While working as a plant manager at Empire Cheese, Barnett Memorials became a successful Mom & Pop business. Ken and Betty decided to move the business to a storefront on Route 5 in the town of Elbridge. They remained at the Quon-set hut for several years, returning back to Hamilton Road upon Ken's retirement.
Throughout the years, family and friends often assisted the Barnetts in their endeavors to service their surrounding fellow neighbors, city and townfolk with their memorial needs. Two of the most devoted helpers for Ken was a fellow named Bill Rinaldi, better known as Old Bill and his son, young Bill Rinaldi, grandson to Ken.
Throughout the years they had many unforgetable experiences together creating everlasting memories. In 1999, when the time came for Ken to step down, young Bill was the perfect family candidate to take over the family business. From that point on, Barnett Memorials again moved to Main Street in Elbridge where Bill and Kristine and their two children live. Barnett Memorials has its own office and building with a array of monuments to choose from at their 236 East Main Street location.
Although Bill, a corrections officer with the State of New York and his wife, Kristine, an Opthamologist technician have outside careers, they continue to service Elbridge and surrounding communities with pride. Customer service is their main priority, a tradition that was handed down and continues thru the years.