Couple's 'love of rocks' rocking on
Garielle and Fredrick Hampton (Photo by Scott Jorgenson/'IVN')
For more than four years, Gabrielle and Fredrick Hampton owned a successful rock-and-mineral shop in Walker Lake, Nev.
But they decided that a change of location was in order, and began looking for a new place for their business.
It didn’t come easy though, as the couple spent two years on their search. They were about to give up when they came across a listing in the Illinois Valley community of Kerby.
“The first time we saw it, we knew it was the place,” Gabrielle said. “We didn’t have to think about it.”
In January, the Hamptons packed up and started their journey toward a new life. Although it took four round-trips to move all their worldly possessions -- and the 60,000 pounds of rocks in their inventory -- doing so did not take long.
“I made pretty good time,” Fredrick said. “I lived in the truck for a couple of weeks.”
The next step was remodeling their new 194 Finch Road storefront at Redwood Hwy., across Finch from Joe’s Market. That process was completed last month, and Hampton Rock Shop is now open for business.
The business is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What prompted the couple’s ultimate career path? Frederick sums it up succinctly: “A love of rocks.”
Several years ago, Gabrielle had planned to attend college in Georgia to major in oil painting. But her whole life changed after attending a mineral-and-gem show in Arizona.
Gabrielle met a jeweler there, and began an apprenticeship. She has spent the subsequent seven years making jewelry from scratch and polishing rocks.
Hampton’s Rock Shop carries rocks from all over the world, which the couple mine and collect themselves. Their inventory comes from as far away as Russia, Brazil, the Congo and Tibet. It even includes some rare Siberian amethyst.
“Few people carry the mineral in this country,” Fredrick said.
Aside from a vast display of amethyst, Hampton’s Rock Shop has a variety of beads, crystals, large fossils, petrified wood, carvings and mineral specimens.
Gabrielle said that the store fits in well with Kerby’s origins as a mining town, as well as its proximity to Oregon Caves National Monument, 22 miles east of Cave Junction.
“It goes right along with the history of the town,” Gabrielle said.
Now that they’re settled in, the Hamptons are thrilled that local residents have greeted them with open arms.
“We’ve had such an outpouring of support from the community,” Gabrielle said. “It’s been great.”
Fredrick and Gabrielle also are pleased at the number of talented artists in the area.
“There’s a lot of culture,” Fredrick said. “Where we were, it was lacking. But here, there’s an abundance.”
Both the Hamptons are trained as lapidaries, ensuring the quality of their work. And the warm welcome that they and their 3-year-old son, Baron, have thus far received will help secure their presence in Illinois Valley well into the future.
“We want to be here, probably, forever,” Fredrick said.
For more information on Hampton’s Rock Shop, phone 592-2800.
