The Stoney End LEgacy
- Len Maceachron
- Gary and Eve Stone
- Grady & Nikki O’Gorman
From Law to Logs to Legend: The Strings of Stoney End
A History
How does a city patent attorney’s passion for folk music transform into a three-story musical cathedral in a 1920s dairy barn? The history of Stoney End Music is more than just a timeline of business transactions; it’s a forty-year symphony of craftsmanship, a leap of faith into the Red Wing bluffs, and a multi-generational commitment to keeping traditional music alive.
From the bohemian streets of Minneapolis to the quiet dead-end roads of Goodhue County, the story of Stoney End is a testament to what happens when you trade a briefcase for a luthier’s plane. Join us as we trace the journey from the founding vision of Len MacEachron, through the transformative decades of Gary and Eve Stone, to the new era of innovation led by Grady and Nikki O’Gorman.
The Luthier Who Left the Law: Len MacEachron
To truly understand Stoney End, you have to go back to Lendrum “Len” MacEachron, the man who traded a briefcase for a wood plane.
Before the “Stoney End” barn existed, there was Here Inc., founded in 1968. At the time, Len was a successful patent attorney with a 25-year career under his belt. But his heart wasn’t in the courtroom—it was in the rhythmic, earthy tones of the Appalachian dulcimer.
A Radical Career Shift
In a move that would make any modern “corporate escapee” proud, Len quit the law to focus full-time on his passion for folk music. Along with his wife, Suanna (Su), he opened a shop in the Cedar-Riverside/West Bank area of Minneapolis (and later Dinkytown).
Len wasn’t just a luthier; he was a problem-solver. Having served as an Air Force plane mechanic instructor during World War II, he had a mechanical mind that he applied to instrument design. He became “evangelical” about the dulcimer, believing its simplicity made it the perfect “people’s instrument.”
“Music can save the world”
The “Parent Figures” of the Folk Scene
The MacEachrons didn’t just sell instruments; they cultivated a culture.
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The Shop: Here Inc. became a central hub for the burgeoning Twin Cities folk scene in the 70s.
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The Vibe: Their shop and home were legendary for “jam sessions” where 15 people would be invited and 60 would show up.
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The Mentors: To young, often-discouraged musicians like a young Garrison Keillor, Len and Su were the “parent figures” of the acoustic tribe, offering encouragement and a sense of community.
The Motto: “Music Can Save the World”
Len’s philosophy was simple: music was a tool for joy and connection. He authored books like Play the Dulcimer by Ear and specialized in instrument kits, wanting to empower people to build their own music from the ground up.
When Len and Su retired in 1984, they sold the business to Gary and Eve Stone. While the name changed and the workshop moved to a barn in Red Wing, that “inventive spirit” remained. In fact, Gary Stone only started building harps because he found a stray set of harp plans Len had tucked away among the dulcimer patterns.
The Stones and the Barn: A Red Wing Revolution
The story of Stoney End takes a turn for the picturesque in 1984. While Len MacEachron provided the folk-fueled spark, Gary and Eve Stone provided the fire (and the sawdust) that turned a Minneapolis shop into a world-renowned destination.
The Cabinet Maker’s Call
Before he was a master luthier, Gary Stone was an “unfulfilled” kitchen-cabinet installer with a workshop where he spent his free time restoring antique furniture. He had the precision of a craftsman but was looking for something more melodic than a spice rack.
When the opportunity arose to purchase Here Inc. from Len, Gary didn’t just buy a company; he inherited a treasure trove of patterns and a philosophy of accessible music.
The Move to Red Wing
The Stones didn’t stay in the city for long. Seeking a space that matched their artisan spirit, they relocated to a rural stretch just outside Red Wing.
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The Name: It was Eve Stone who gave the company its poetic name. “Stoney End” was a clever nod to their surname and the fact that their new workshop was located on a dead-end country road.
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The Barn: They didn’t move into a factory; they moved into a 1920s dairy barn. In a feat of musical repurposing, they transformed the three-and-a-half-story structure:
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The Ground Floor: Where dairy cows once stood, Gary set up a hive of activity for building harps and dulcimers.
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The Grain Storage: This area became a cozy folk-music shop.
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The Hay Loft: The soaring, cathedral-like top floor was cleared of hay and turned into the “Music Loft,” a venue for concerts and community jam sessions.
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The “Accidental” Harp
Gary actually started making harps by accident. While sorting through Len’s old dulcimer patterns, he found a single, stray set of harp plans. He saw a “kernel of a real good idea” in the design and spent years re-engineering and improving it.
Gary eventually designed 17 original harp models, from the portable 16-string lap harps to the 34-string floor harps. Over the decades, he has hand-built more than 7,000 lever harps.
The Heart of the Operation: Eve and the Family
While Gary was the master builder, Eve Stone was the face and heart of the business. Often the first person to greet visitors at the barn, she became an expert in the nuanced “personality” of different woods:
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Cherry: Known for a sweet, mellow tone.
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Walnut: For those seeking a darker, moodier sound.
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Maple: The hardest wood, producing a deep and rich resonance.
As the business grew, it became a true family affair. Their daughter, Brittany, even had a harp named after her—the “Brittany,” a 22-string Celtic-style lap harp that remains a fan favorite.
A Legacy Continued
For 40 years, the Stones grew Stoney End into a global name, shipping instruments as far as Japan. They also partnered with the UK’s Hobgoblin Music, making their Red Wing barn the U.S. flagship for folk instruments from around the world.
In 2025, Gary and Eve officially retired to spend time with their family and tend to Gary’s vineyard, passing the barn’s keys to Grady and Nikki O’Gorman. Today, Gary still hangs around as a “Master Harp Builder,” ensuring the sawdust never quite settles in the barn on the hill.
Passing the Torch: Grady and Nikki O’Gorman
Every great folk story has a new chapter, and for Stoney End, that chapter began in 2025. After four decades of turning wood into wonder, Gary and Eve Stone found the perfect duo to keep the “Music Loft” humming: Grady and Nikki O’Gorman.
If Gary Stone was the craftsman who expanded the barn’s legacy, the O’Gormans are the modern visionaries designed to preserve it. They didn’t just buy a business; they stepped into a living piece of Minnesota’s musical history, bringing a fresh blend of technical precision and creative energy to the Red Wing bluffs.
The Luthier and the Leader
The O’Gormans bring a “power couple” dynamic to the workshop that mirrors the balance of the Stones before them:
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Grady O’Gorman (The Builder & Managing Director): Grady isn’t just a fan of the craft; he is a trained luthier and an engineer by trade. This combination is a “sweet spot” for instrument making. His engineering background allows him to understand the structural physics of string tension and resonance, while his luthier training ensures that every harp and dulcimer maintains that soulful, handcrafted touch Stoney End is known for.
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Nikki O’Gorman (The Creative & Events Director): While Grady is in the sawdust, Nikki is the architect of the experience. With a background in strategic leadership and project management, she has taken over the reins of the retail shop and the “Music Loft.” Her focus is on expanding the barn’s cultural footprint—turning it into an even more vibrant gathering place for workshops, concerts, and community events.
The Future of the Barn
Under the O’Gormans, Stoney End continues to serve as the U.S. flagship for Hobgoblin Music, ensuring that Red Wing remains the premier destination for everything from Irish bouzoukis to Northumbrian smallpipes.
They’ve also modernized the experience, refining the retail space and leaning into the idea that the barn isn’t just a shop—it’s a destination. Whether you’re a professional harpist or a curious traveler who wandered off Highway 61, Grady and Nikki have ensured that the “Stoney End” (the dead-end road with the big red barn) remains a place where the music never actually stops