The Alberene Foundation
Preserving the legacy of American Soapstone
The Story of an Industry
The history of soapstone in Virginia began with the Alberene Stone Company. Established in the late 1880’s when James Serene, the first of a long line of enterprising individuals, began tapping into one of the finest soapstone lodes in the world. He joined his name, Serene, and that of Albermarle County, where the first quarry was located, and named the stone and future town Alberene.
By the 1920’s the Alberene Stone Company in Schuyler, Virginia employed over 2000 workers and was the principal non-agricultural employer in southern Albermarle and Nelson Counties.
Alberene’s soapstone was the material of choice for laboratory work surfaces, sinks, and fume hoods, accounting for nearly all work surfaces in laboratories built prior to 1960.
140 Years Later...
Virginia Soapstone continues to evolve as a preferred material among designers, architects, and artists, reflecting ongoing technical refinement and sustained innovation in its applications.
The Alberene Foundation aims to foster this innovation by preserving the History, Facilities, and Material Culture of The Alberene Soapstone Company and by creating a venue for the transfer of knowledge about Virginia soapstone and its use in art, architecture, and commerce through the establishment of The Alberene Quarry School of Craft and the rehabilitation of the historic Schuyler Virginia campus.
To achieve this goal we are asking for your help and support