Scott Hawthorn was born Scott Mitchell in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1971. He stayed here through his 24th year, including going to the University of Winona, MN, majoring in Philosophy and English. After a couple years running a painting business in La Crosse with his brother, he moved down to Decorah, IA, in search of a more rural lifestyle. It was here that he began an apprenticeship with Ted Wilson, in the time-honored art of Traditional English Stonemasonry. Immediately hooked by its structural artistry , beauty, and natural simplicity, he knew this to be his vocation.
Scott spent 5 years with Ted working with the local stone of the Oneota River Valley. At that point, Scott started his own masonry contracting business, Mitchell Masonry. For the past 6 years, he has been continuing in his trade, building limestone retaining and free-standing walls, foundations and fireplaces, as well as doing some interior and exterior tiling . In the winters, you may find him doing some stone carving in his free time as well.
Scott has dedicated himself to the preservation of this beautiful and ancient trade. He is passionate about the use of local materials, used in a sustainable way.
Mitchell Masonry recently changed its name to Hawthorn Masonry. On January 1, 2005, Scott was married to Elyse Cohrs. They chose a new name of Scott and Elyse Fearn Hawthorn. Fearn being the Celtic word for the alder tree, Elyse’s Celtic tree and Hawthorn being Scott’s. Their family grew a little larger again on August 25, 2005 with the birth of their exquisitely beautiful little daughter, Aya Mharie.
Oneota Stonecrafters is the name of a larger masonry cooperative Scott is trying to start in the area, combining the talents of the other traditional masons in the area.
