Other Antique Red Bricks
Other Pacific Northwest Bricks
When SJ started to get into Hidden bricks, some other brick companies also caught their attention. We figure they should share some of their favorites they came across since they started this project in 2019.
E.J. Jeffery Brick Company - Portland, Oregon
Edward James Jeffrey had been a miner for many years before settling in Portland Oregon and engaging in various building trades. His brickyard was located at Northwest 19th and B (Burnside St). He imprinted the bricks for his projects with the year and his name E.J. Jeffery.
Operating from 1867 to 1895, Jeffery was one of the first brick manufacturers to employ brick making machinery rather than making them by hand. There are so many errors in EJJ Bricks - they spell his last name "Jeffery" and "Jeffries" amongst other variations.
Mr. Jeffrey was elected Multnomah County Sheriff in 1872 and was involved in the construction of local sewers and railroad tunnels.
There's still an 1871 E. J. J. brick in a wall in Ankeny Square near the old location of Saturday Market and the Skidmore Fountain in downtown Portland. As you can see, clearly the area has seen better days. The brick is in the wall to the lower left of the Ankeny Arcade plaque. In 1978 the Old Town/Skidmore neigborhood was designated a National Historic district, and the Ankeny Arcade was installed. Captain Ankeny's tribute used cast iron elements saved from demolished historic buildings.
The column capitals incorporated here are from the McBreen Building, which was built in 1883 at Morrison and 3rd Avenues and was sadly demolished in 1976.
Kern Brick Company - Portland, Oregon
Born in Portland in 1862, Loyal E. Kern established the Kern Clay Products Company of Portland in 1923. His father, John W. Kern, arrived in Oregon Territory in 1851, traveling across the country with a pioneer wagon train when he was just 15 years old.
John worked for his father William Kern who operated a Cedar Mill sawmill before taking up a donation land claim near 82nd and Powell Streets in Portland Oregon, where he remained until just before his death in 1865. In 1883, Loyal married Helen Hawes, a native of Canada. By 1890 he turned his attention to the brick manufacturing business, establishing a plant at East 37th and Powell Streets that operated until 1923.
John worked for his father William Kern who operated a Cedar Mill sawmill before taking up a donation land claim near 82nd and Powell Streets in Portland Oregon, where he remained until just before his death in 1865. In 1883, Loyal married Helen Hawes, a native of Canada. By 1890 he turned his attention to the brick manufacturing business, establishing a plant at East 37th and Powell Streets that operated until 1923.
Originally operating out of Willamina, Oregon, Kern Clay Products manufactured most materials used in construction work, including lumber, hardware, paints, plaster, lime and cement, but largely specialized in bricks.
Kern also sold bricks from St. Louis, Spokane, Troy (Idaho) and the Willamina Clay Products Company nationwide, mostly to local businesses. Family ties to Portland still run deep with the Kerns, they continue to be known locally for their philanthropy.
The Kerns are interred in Riverview Abbey Mausoleum in Portland and their descendents are still in the Portland area.
Chinese immigrants were crucial to providing cheap labor that made Oregon brickmaking competitive. Local publications typically published racist commentary on the situation, dehumanizing the immigrants and minimizing their contributions.
Many of these immigrants are buried in unmarked graves in the area, including in Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery. The favorite daughter of John McLoughlin (who is related to both Andrea and SJ's family members), Eloisa McLoughlin Harvey, is also buried there with many other significant Pioneers from the area. This cemetery is known to be wildly haunted.
Many of these immigrants are buried in unmarked graves in the area, including in Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery. The favorite daughter of John McLoughlin (who is related to both Andrea and SJ's family members), Eloisa McLoughlin Harvey, is also buried there with many other significant Pioneers from the area. This cemetery is known to be wildly haunted.
Besides the Chinese, Oregon was also not nice to Black people. Back in 1844 when Oregon was still a territory, it passed it's first Black exclusionary law, prohibiting Black people from living in the Oregon Territory until 1848. Punishment for this law was up to 39 lashes every six months until they left. They included this lovely little law in the same decree that officially outlawed slavery.
They doubled down in 1849, barring any Blacks that weren't aleady here from residing here. In 1859 when Oregon became a state they then passed a law excluding Blacks from owning property and making contracts.
Columbia Brick Company - Gresham, Oregon
In 1906 Franz Olbrich Sr. started the Columbia Brick Works in Gresham, Oregon when he was only 19 years old. A hardworking farmer's son from Germany, Olbrich stood at only 5 feet tall, quite a contrast to the rest of the important players in this Hidden brick story that were known for their towering height.
The Columbia Brick Works processed nearly 40 acres of clay by hand until 1923 when the company acquired a power shovel. For many years, the brick factory was the largest employer in Gresham, keeping people working during World War II and the Great Depression. At the time, the city’s population was only around 1,000 people – between 50 to 75 of those residents worked at the factory.
Brickmaking here was similar to the Hidden brickyard process in Vancouver. Brick molds were lined with sand to allow for easy removal of the bricks after the drying process and then baked at 1,500 to 2,000 degrees. The ovens were initially heated with six cords of slab wood per day, then moved on to sawdust and eventually coal to burn bricks.
Franz Olbrich Sr.'s son said that his father could tell if a brick was sufficiently burned by just looking at it, like a baker can tell if a cake is done. The old abandoned yard off along Johnson Creek off of Hogan Road is now owned by Mutual Materials, who purchased it from the Olbrich family in 1973 and still makes bricks on site. This makes this location Oregon's oldest operating brick factory.
When Janet gave SJ a Columbia fire brick and they dug into their history, they were thrilled to realize some of the old brick yard ruins were around and still fairly accessible. Of course we had to go out here "bricking".
The old brickworks was partially demolished by Mutual Materials in 2003. The old Columbia Brick Works buildings, some of which are currently used for storage, are located in the southwest and central part of the site. This was a big brickyard when it was in full operation, taking 1 million bricks just to build the ovens here! They dug the clay out of the fast moving Johnson Creek here. There are rail tracks and a major road in the area, it's another liminal spot.
The old brickworks was partially demolished by Mutual Materials in 2003. The old Columbia Brick Works buildings, some of which are currently used for storage, are located in the southwest and central part of the site. This was a big brickyard when it was in full operation, taking 1 million bricks just to build the ovens here! They dug the clay out of the fast moving Johnson Creek here. There are rail tracks and a major road in the area, it's another liminal spot.
The brickyard site along the Springwater Trail line shipped the brick out by train to the Portland area and onward. Once local wood supplies were depleted, the train was also used to bring in fuel for the brick ovens.
If you walk in the woods or on the trail along the Springwater corridor and look for bricks, you'll find them. We had to pace ourselves, but here's some of SJ's finds from the first time they went out.
If you walk in the woods or on the trail along the Springwater corridor and look for bricks, you'll find them. We had to pace ourselves, but here's some of SJ's finds from the first time they went out.
These bricks were also critical to building several of the churches in Gresham, including the Catholic churches... and a daughter in the Olbrich family married into the TENNEY family. (We are all big fans of Tenneys in this household). Most of the Olbrich family is still in the area.
The St. Henry's Church was built in 1966 from Columbia brick. When we visited in January 2021 it was clearly in the middle of a renovation. SJ was happy to see some now-familiar bricks being salvaged and repurposed here in the repair.
Sylvan Brick Company / Standard Brick Company, Portland, Oregon
In 1850 pioneer Nathan B. Jones settled at the head of Tanner Creek, Oregon and platted lots for a community he called "Zion Town".
Because there were already two post offices named "Zion" in Oregon, a resident suggested the name "Sylvan" as an alternative, from the Roman deity Silvanus, the protector of the woods.
SJ's husband Dave was born in a house in this same neighborhood within blocks of this old brickyard and spent a lot of time around there as a kid, so we decided to look into this past local company further.
SJ's husband Dave was born in a house in this same neighborhood within blocks of this old brickyard and spent a lot of time around there as a kid, so we decided to look into this past local company further.
Standard Brick & Tile was established in Portland in 1909, manufacturing bricks, tile, terra cotta, stucco, and plaster at its plant on Canyon Road in the Sylvan neighborhood of Portland.
Initially, the company primarily provided brick as structural supports for commercial and office buildings. The area where the brickyard stood is near the large business park at Westgate and Skyline Blvd. There are no remaining traces of the brickyard left here.
Initially, the company primarily provided brick as structural supports for commercial and office buildings. The area where the brickyard stood is near the large business park at Westgate and Skyline Blvd. There are no remaining traces of the brickyard left here.
By 1922 Standard began referring to its brick as “Sylvan brick," advertised as a local product. The construction and subsequent marketing of the "Brick House Beautiful" in the historic and liminal Laurelhurst neighborhood greatly expanded Standard Brick's presence in Portland.
The Standard Brick Company supplied brick, tile, and other materials for several important Portland homes and apartment complexes, such as the A.J. Geisy-Failing House and Adele Manor, now called the Adelle Apartments, both built in 1928. Architect Elmer Feig designed the Adele and several other amazing Egyptian Revival sites that are still left to admire in Portland. The local "Unreinforced Masonry Law" has put many of these historic brick sites in danger, under the guise of public safety concerns... just like the Providence Academy in Vancouver.
In September 1929, Standard Brick & Tile Company closed their manufacturing plant. The brickyard reopened in early 1931 as the Sylvan Brick Company, operating until the late 1940's, when the Columbia Brick Company became Oregon's only remaining active brickyard.
Los Angeles Pressed Brick Company - Alberhill, California
Founded in 1887 by Charles Henry Frost, the Los Angeles Pressed Brick Company was an important west coast brickmaker. LAPBCo manufactured plain, molded, and ornamental pressed bricks, enameled brick, architectural terra cotta, fire-proof hollow tile, roofing tile, mantel and hearth tile, and other fire-clay goods.
In 1898 they began making firebricks until the Alberhill plant was built in 1915. A wonderful deep dive into this brickyard, with a look at the many bricks that were manufactured there is HERE.
In 1926, upon retirement of Howard Frost, the Gladding, McBean and Company took control of the plants owned by the Los Angeles Pressed Brick Company. Gladding, McBean and Company - Alberhill operated until the 1980s.
East Coast Red Bricks
The Hudson River Valley of New York was a brickmaking hotspot in the 19th century due to the growth of New York City. Here's a few of the New York Brick Companies that caught my attention for various reasons as I researched bricks.
In the first decade of the 20th century, the Hudson Valley was the largest brick-producing region in the world, producing over a billion bricks a year, accounting for 10% of total U.S. brick production. The last surviving brickyard is long gone from this area, but the beginnings of American Brickmaking are tied to the area.
In the first decade of the 20th century, the Hudson Valley was the largest brick-producing region in the world, producing over a billion bricks a year, accounting for 10% of total U.S. brick production. The last surviving brickyard is long gone from this area, but the beginnings of American Brickmaking are tied to the area.
Although brick-making involved all ethnic groups, 60 percent of brickyard workers in America were Black, and many were enslaved. This continues TODAY in India and other locations, and often includes child labor.
The history of Slavery in brickmaking is well-documented (although somewhat incorrectly) throughout time, going back to the Egyptian era. It is important that we acknowledge this, and few people are willing to do so.
Bricks are another way our country was built on the backs of brown and Black people. There's a long history of many prisoners being forced to make bricks everywhere, even locally.
It's about time to stop being assholes about bricks.
Washburn Brick Company - Glasco/Saugerties, New York
The community of Glasco on the Hudson River in the town of Saugerties, NY was mostly settled by brickyard workers. Men came from Ireland, Italy and Germany in great numbers in the late 19th century by ferry in New York City. They tended to live in company housing on the banks of the river.
In the 1880s the Washburn Brothers opened their brickyard. Bricks were sent down the Hudson River by barge to then construct America's cities.
During the depression the brick industry languished and one of the Washburn brothers died by suicide. All the workers were called in by the remaining brother and told, "Business is bad. If you stick with me you won't lose your job but your wages will be reduced until we can see this through." Many of the men went to Athens and Hudson to work in other brickyards or in the cement plants instead of sticking it out.
During the depression the brick industry languished and one of the Washburn brothers died by suicide. All the workers were called in by the remaining brother and told, "Business is bad. If you stick with me you won't lose your job but your wages will be reduced until we can see this through." Many of the men went to Athens and Hudson to work in other brickyards or in the cement plants instead of sticking it out.
Sage Brick Manufacturing Company - Southold, New York
The Sage Brick Company on the north fork of Long Island, New York was an important part of east coast history and quite a bit of documentation about it exists as a result.
DeWitt Clinton Sage was born in Middletown, Connecticut in 1837. He learned the brick making business working as an apprentice to his father Barzella Sage. When he was sixteen years old his father died, leaving him to manage the brick business. After successfully running the business for six years he sold it to focus his time on making machinery and cartridges for the war.
After fulfilling the contract for the cartridges (for which he didn't turn a profit), he secured a job manufacturing headstones for cemeteries. Sage then became ill and went to Fisher's Island to recover, where he met local brickmaker Eugene Strickler.
He then bought the clay deposits between Clay Point and Hawks Nest Point with the intention of starting a brickyard.
2,500,000 bricks were delivered every season by the Sage Brick Manufacturing Company by 1879. Initially oxen and then horses pulled materials and dragged finished brick to the railway or to the docks to be loaded on ships. Millions of local bricks went to New York and New England. Sage operated until 1938 when a hurricane flooded the clay banks.
The brickyard location is now used as a marina in Greenport, New York. The cottages that were used as brickyard's workers residences are still standing, although they are now located across the street closer to the water and called "Breezy Shores".
These Sage stamped red bricks date to roughly 1885.
The brickyard location is now used as a marina in Greenport, New York. The cottages that were used as brickyard's workers residences are still standing, although they are now located across the street closer to the water and called "Breezy Shores".
These Sage stamped red bricks date to roughly 1885.
Patrick O'Brien Brick Company - Verplanck, New York
O'Briens have still been recently found at the old brickyard site, now Montrose Point State Forest, off Kings Ferry Road and in the ruins of the Peekskill Centennial Hose Firehouse.
In 1858, the O'Brien brickyards of Verplanck donated bricks to build St. Augustine Church in Ossining, NY with the provision that should any of the owner's descendants ever need money, the church would pay the full value of the bricks."
"The red brick was delivered and the little church was constructed up to the side doors...and as parishioners tell... a later generation paid for the bricks" (Source). This first church was demolished in 1978.
"At Green's Cove, between Verplanck Point and Montrose Point, were the brickyards of Cyrus Travis, then the supervisor of the town of Cortlandt, and O'Brien & McConnon. Each employed 50 men." - From Brickcollecting.com
Rose Brick Company - Roseton, New York
Arguably the best quality bricks to come out of the Hudson River Valley New York area were Rose bricks. John Bailey Rose (his family was of Dutch origin) took over the family business of brickmaking with his two brothers after their father's sudden death.
Rose was known for bring an exceptionally good employer to work for and known for treating his employees well, recognizing that happy employees made quality bricks.
With 1000 employees at their peak, the Rose Brick Company had maximum output of 400 million bricks per year!
Rose also practiced stringent quality control throughout their brickmaking process. The entire process was carefully controlled, from how the clay was dug and exposed (like the Hiddens did) all the way through the end result.
Architects and builders recognized the superior quality of Rose-made brick, and they were used many important buildings including the Empire State Building, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Waldorf Astoria.
Crushed Rose bricks were also used to cover and line walkways and paths, as was the case in Central Park!
JJJ Juan Jacinto Jova Brick - Roseton, New York
Cuban Immigrant Juan Jacinto Jova came to New York to try to grow sugar cane. When that failed, he realized his home was on a good patch of clay and so he tore down his mansion and built a brickyard instead in 1884. After his untimely death in 1894, Jova's four sons (Henri, Edward, Joseph and John), known to locals as "the Jova Boys," continued the business.
The clay at the Jova plant was virtually identical to that at the Rose plant, and these were the second most in demand, producing 33 million bricks per season.
Jova bricks were used in the construction of the Custom House at Bowling Greene, in the Brooklyn Navy Yard buildings, and in the Public Library building of the City of New York completed in 1903.
B J Allison and Company - Hudson River, New York
S J & A Co. bricks were made by B. J. Allison and Company from 1884 through 1910. A major center for the brick industry was Haverstraw (in Rockland County, NY) located at the widest point on the river. The combination of prime raw material in the rich, blue clay here and a skilled local workforce helped make the area "the brick making capital of the world”.
On January 8th, 1906 a landslide occurred in Haverstraw, NY when clay beneath a 100 foot embankment slipped away. This was caused by the gradual weakening of the earth as the excavation of clay deposits moved inwards from the river towards homes. A total of 21 buildings were lost as well as 19 lives. Some blamed greedy brickmakers for undermining the land and ignoring signs of its instability.
Haverstraw New York is also home to a Brick Museum that I would very much like to visit one day. I heard that in addition to having walls of stamped bricks to geek out over, the gift shop sells chocolate bricks.
Stiles Brick Company - North Haven, Connecticut
I.L. & H.H. Stiles operated in North Haven, CT from 1875-1879 and then later as the I.L. Stiles & Son Brick Co. from 1892-1957. Stiles & Hart Brick Company has operated from 1913 to the present, at one time having several plants. Only the Bridgewater, Massachusetts location is still operational, and they are only remaining brick manufacturer in Massachusetts.
The list of projects built with these bricks is beyond impressive, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth Universities.
Of course our friend AP Strange uncovered a Stiles brick at his place, too.
R. O. Clark Brick Company - Cromwell, Connecticut
Rice Owens Clark established a brick yard near Cromwell, CT in 1897 to supply bricks to local and state government buildings. Business expanded and his company provided bricks for textile mills in the New England area.
Labor unrest and the Great Depression put the company out of business in 1930. These bricks were recovered from a recently demolished textile mill in Massachusetts.
West Barnstable Brick Co - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The West Barnstable Brick Company in Cape Cod, Massachusetts was in business from 1823 to 1932.
There's a great writeup HERE about this important historic brick company that does a way better job than SJ can. This brickyard was basically self-sufficient, the only supplies needed to be brought in was wood for the kiln.
Here's a look at the old brick yard's ruins.
Midwest Bricks
Richmond Molded Clay Company - Mansfield, Ohio
The state of Ohio produced over 25% of the United States brick supply in the early 1900s. Anyone that has spent time in Ohio can confirm that Ohio is really weird, so I love that so many bricks came from here.
This Richmond stamped brick was made in Mansfield Ohio around 1900. At some point Richmond Moulded Clay changed names to "Richmond Molded Brick Company," until they were purchased and renamed "Artisan Moulded Brick, LLC" in 2004. They appear to now be out of business.
Mr P. Explores has a great look at the abandoned Mansfield Richmond Brickyard on their Facebook page. Here's a great website from someone in Ohio who likes to hunt bricks out there like I do in Washington and Oregon.
Whitacre Greer - Alliance, Ohio
Established in 1916 by J.J. Whitacre, the original pioneer and founder of the company, Whiteacre Greer in Alliance, Ohio is still in business! Whitacre Greer is a small, boutique-type manufacturer of fired-clay paving brick, supplying mainly to Kentucky and Ohio.
Whitacre Greer pavers make up Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Dayton and many other schools throughout the country. They manufacture both white and red paving and construction bricks.
1835 Deerfield Ohio Township Brick - John Diver House
The oldest brick in SJ's collection comes from the Deerfield Ohio Township and the 1835 historic and haunted John Diver House.
A 2010 campaign to raise money to the John Diver House wasn't successful and it was sold and demolished by a private buyer. Unfortunately, they have this amazing brick because the house has been torn down.
The majority of the bricks from the structure were moved and repurposed to build a private residence in Tuscawaras County, Ohio. Deerfield locals described the bricks as bearing the fingerprints of the workers that hand made them in the early 1800s and that bricks were also used for insulation inside this building.
The house was originally built to use as half store, half residence, and has been used over the years as a post office, hardware store, general store, tavern and antique store. It was John Diver's trading with a local indigenous person that contributed to the historic nature of the site.
From kentohiohistory.org: "...in December, 1806, a disturbance occurred in Deerfield Township which resulted in the killing of an Indian. The trouble started when a white man named John Diver traded an old horse to an Indian named Nickshaw for an Indian pony. Nickshaw returned in a few days and wanted to trade back, saying that the white man had cheated him. Diver laughed at the Indian. Nickshaw then hired his brother-in-law, Mohawk, to shoot Diver but by mistake the Indian shot Daniel Diver, the brother of John, the ball taking out both of his eyes.
Diver recovered, however, and married, raised a family, and lived 30 years or more. Nickshaw was subsequently killed by neighbors of Diver but Mohawk escaped."
From kentohiohistory.org: "...in December, 1806, a disturbance occurred in Deerfield Township which resulted in the killing of an Indian. The trouble started when a white man named John Diver traded an old horse to an Indian named Nickshaw for an Indian pony. Nickshaw returned in a few days and wanted to trade back, saying that the white man had cheated him. Diver laughed at the Indian. Nickshaw then hired his brother-in-law, Mohawk, to shoot Diver but by mistake the Indian shot Daniel Diver, the brother of John, the ball taking out both of his eyes.
Diver recovered, however, and married, raised a family, and lived 30 years or more. Nickshaw was subsequently killed by neighbors of Diver but Mohawk escaped."
Le High Brick Company - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Le High Bricks came out of Philadephia, Pennsylvania. SJ bought this brick on ebay as they thought the name was funny. A later type of LeHigh bricks were involved with an asbestos lawsuit (not this kind of brick - it won't kill them, much like weed won't either - the war on drugs was a scam).
They are larger and a more "stone like" fire brick material than the softer red construction bricks from around the Pacific Northwest.
For a look at the abandoned Le High Brickyard, check out this awesome website.
Harbison-Walker Company - Stronach Station, Pennsylvania
Widemire was a mark of the Harbison-Walker Company of Pennsylvania, in use from about 1921 to 1942.
From the History of the Clay-Working Industry in the United States published in 1909: "In 1893 Harbison Walker bought the Cambria Fire Brick Company's works and clay properties located at Figart, Cambria County, and this was followed in 1897 by the erection of the Widemire works at Stronach Station, Pa., with a daily capacity of about 35,000 brick." This brick was was recovered near the mouth of Narragansett Bay near Newport, Rhode Island.
From the History of the Clay-Working Industry in the United States published in 1909: "In 1893 Harbison Walker bought the Cambria Fire Brick Company's works and clay properties located at Figart, Cambria County, and this was followed in 1897 by the erection of the Widemire works at Stronach Station, Pa., with a daily capacity of about 35,000 brick." This brick was was recovered near the mouth of Narragansett Bay near Newport, Rhode Island.
Missouri Bricks
Fulton Fire Brick Company- Fulton, Missouri
Brickmaking was a big business in the state of Missouri. One of the bricks SJ found in their brick research that they just had to have was this "FULTON MO" brick from Fulton Missouri. They never knew how AWESOME Fulton was before they had this brick.
When SJ started researching this brick they discovered a parallel to the Hidden brick story with a historic building (the old brick plant) being torn down.
This article is a good history of brickmaking in the Fulton area, which is still occurring. Fulton also has a what they call a historic Brick District.
Mexico, Missouri was also a big brickmaking manufacturing area historically, and most red bricks stamped "MEXICO" are from here, and not the country of Mexico.
St. Louis V. & F. B. Company - St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri is so noted for their historical bricks that there is an ongoing problem with purposeful vandalism of old brick buildings to salvage historical bricks.
St. Louis Vitrified & Fire-Brick Co had an exhibit at the History of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (AKA The St. Louis World's Fair) of 1904. This is the same World's Fair that the haunted Jantzen Beach Carousel on Hayden Island was originally unveiled at before being installed in Portland in the 1920's.
The Iron Cross on this St. Louis V & F.B. stamp is particularly interesting. Portland Oregon's Kern Brick Company (see earlier above mention) also sold St. Louis bricks.
Sam Currier - Stillwater, Oklahoma
Sam Currier got his start making bricks in Missouri. He later moved his family by covered wagon to participate in the Oklahoma land rush. Bricks were first made in Stillwater around 1896 at the Sam Currier plant, according to information in the book, “Made out-a Mud.” This red Sam Currier brick was made in Stillwater, Oklahoma around 1898.
Sam Currier also made some of the first bricks in Guthrie at the time when the city was the the capital of Oklahoma, before the seat was moved to Oklahoma City. Guthrie was the site of Sam Currier's first brick factory. These were used mainly as a construction bricks. Sam Currier also made bricks in Deepwater, Missouri around the same time.
Ada Brick & Tile Company - Ada, Oklahoma
The Ada Brick Company started making bricks before Oklahoma's statehood (1907) and stopped brick making at the Ada plant on January 31, 1981. Ada Brick Company manufactured red bricks and smoother white bricks later.
On February 1, 1981 the new owner of the Ada Brick Company made four "runs" of bricks and then decided to not produce them anymore. The Ada Brick Company still sells bricks, but they are made by nearly a dozen other brick factories around the country.
The old Ada Brick Company was located next to the railroad tracks in the far southeast part of Ada at Brick Yard Avenue and Kerr Lab Road - a liminal spot.
Cleveland VIT Brick Company - Cleveland, Oklahoma
Both Cleveland Ohio and Cleveland Oklahoma made bricks, which can be confusing. Here's one recovered from Oklahoma City.
The Cleveland VIT Brick Company opened on 12 July 1905 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. In December that same year a second brick plant opened in Oklahoma City.
The town of Cleveland, Oklahoma was named in honor of then President Grover Cleveland. Charles Ross Anthony, the founder of the Oklahoma based C.R. Anthony Stores, started his retail career with the J.P. Martin Co. in Cleveland & later established one of his own stores in Cleveland, putting the town on the map.
Kansas Bricks
Brickmaking was a big industry in Kansas. Due to an abundance of natural resources including large deposits of shale, limestone and building stone, Coffeyville was home to a number of brick plants in the late 1890s and early 1900s.
Coffeyville made a ton of vitrified pavers. Vitrification is a process that cures and glazes the bricks into a harder, stronger brick roughly 4 times stronger than concrete.
When Coffeyville's brick factories were operating to capacity, about 765,500 bricks were made every day with five active brickyards at the same time. Several examples follow.
Caney Brick Company - Caney, Kansas
The Caney Brick Company was operational from 1902-1914. Author G. P. Grimsley discusses the company in a 1903 report about the Kansas Mineral Exhibit at St. Louis:
"Over a large area of the state of Kansas the clay shales form a characteristic and thick formation...the brick industry is now prominent in the state, and at St. Louis the brick and the shales were exhibited from the various brick-yards of the state on a long pyramidal table...
On account of the high quality... the exhibit attracted much attention from brick manufacturers and from the general public. The exhibit was thus carefully studied to try and determine whether gas- or coal-burned brick were better..."
Capital City Brick Company - Topeka, Kansas
Capital City Vitrified Brick and Paving Company was awarded "finest vitrified brick at the World’s Fair" in an October 22, 1893 issue of "The Topeka Capital."
The Capital City plant turned out about 35,000 bricks a day, although it had the capacity to produce up to 50,000 bricks daily. The company’s vitrified bricks were made of shale dug from a hillside at the location. The shale was crushed, mixed and moistened before passing through a machine that used pressure to form the bricks into shape.
Once cut to the desired length, the bricks were taken to dry kilns heated by steam. They remained in the kiln for 48 hours before being transferred to Eudaly kilns and fired for 9 to 10 days. These bricks were famous for being three times stronger than concrete. The streets of Topeka still have over 4 miles of paving and 14 miles of sidewalk made from these bricks in use.
The Capital City plant turned out about 35,000 bricks a day, although it had the capacity to produce up to 50,000 bricks daily. The company’s vitrified bricks were made of shale dug from a hillside at the location. The shale was crushed, mixed and moistened before passing through a machine that used pressure to form the bricks into shape.
Once cut to the desired length, the bricks were taken to dry kilns heated by steam. They remained in the kiln for 48 hours before being transferred to Eudaly kilns and fired for 9 to 10 days. These bricks were famous for being three times stronger than concrete. The streets of Topeka still have over 4 miles of paving and 14 miles of sidewalk made from these bricks in use.
Other Kansas Bricks
The Buffalo Brick Company began making bricks in 1902 in Buffalo, Kansas and continued through 1966. A group of Iowa investors who purchased Kansas land completed a manufactory in 1903 on the east side of East Buffalo Creek. Brick shale from the pit on the west side was taken across “a neat little bridge.” A BUFFALO brick branded within a frog recess appears on the Kansas Historical Society Website. In 1916 the company amended their articles of incorporation and named Iowa as their principal place of business.
In 1954 Acme Brick Company, headquartered at Fort Worth, purchased the plant at Buffalo and launched their operations in Kansas.
The Coffeyville Shale Brick Company is another one of SJ's favorites to collect, as SB are their initials and appear on lots of their bricks.
Don't Spit On The Sidewalk - the TB Bricks of Coffeyville, Kansas
Dr. Samuel Crumbine of Dodge City, Kansas was a leading figure in the field of public health in the early 20th century. His health campaigns included this brick admonishing "Don't Spit on Sidewalk."
This is considered one the most collectible pavers out there, and another of SJ's favorite bricks. A lot of people paint the letters to see them better, but SJ's a purist.
Crumbine's public health crusades succeeded in abolishing the common drinking cup, the common or "roller" towel, and spitting in public places. He promoted these campaigns with simple and easy to remember slogans like as "Bat the Rat" and "Swat the Fly." At the time the bricks were made they were controversial for being "rude" but they ended up saving many lives. Sounds like the brick version of "WEAR A MASK!"
Parsons Vitrified Brick Company - Mound Valley, Kansas
Speaking of fans, if you're a fan of Hellier or have researched high strangeness, we don't have to explain to you why SJ was drawn to this Parsons brick from Mound Valley, Kansas.
Oddly, this brick is heavier than other pavers they have from Kansas that are the same size. This makes us wonder - what is different in the soil in Mound Valley versus Coffeyville?
A 1908 "Clay record" notes: "At the annual meeting of the Nelson Brick Company, Mound Valley, Kans., the name was changed to the Parsons Vitrified Brick Co., and office changed to Parsons. The plant will be remodeled and new kilns and drying sheds erected."
Parsons, Kansas in 1908 was a political hot seat with a court case that was a precursor to Oliver L. Brown et al v. the Board of Education of Topeka, a decision that was a turning point for civil rights in America that ruled against segregation of schools. D.A. Williams sued the Board of Education in Parsons because his four children had to cross seven sets of railroad tracks to walk to their "new" school over a mile away. A narrative by Marrietta Smith documents the segregation and desegregation process of Parsons.
By 1911 the Parsons Vitrified Brick Company was up for sale: "RECEIVER'S NOTICE OF SALE... the entire property of the Parsons Vitrified Brick Company. The capacity of said plant being 100,000 per day, with gas field, gas leases and pipe lines, steam shovel, water line and pumping plant, down draft kilns. Full details of plant may be secured upon request from the undersigned. Lester Wade, Receiver, Mound Valley, Kansas."
I can't find mention of the Parsons Vitrified Brick Company after this 1911 entry. I am assuming it was purchased and incorporated into one of the other local Kansas brickyards.
I can't find mention of the Parsons Vitrified Brick Company after this 1911 entry. I am assuming it was purchased and incorporated into one of the other local Kansas brickyards.
Michigan Bricks
Saginaw Paving Brick Company - Saginaw, Michigan
Being born in Michigan, SJ has a particular interest in Michigan Bricks also, and some of the most famous Michigan bricks come from Saginaw. Originally called the Saginaw Clay Manufacturing Company, the Saginaw Paving Brick Company operated from 1894-1917, producing both red stamped construction and vitrified paver bricks.
The clay from Saginaw bricks came from a Flushing, Michigan mine and bricks were shipped on Pere Marquette rail cars throughout Michigan. A railroad strike in 1910 halted manufacturing for a short period.
The clay from Saginaw bricks came from a Flushing, Michigan mine and bricks were shipped on Pere Marquette rail cars throughout Michigan. A railroad strike in 1910 halted manufacturing for a short period.
The Saginaw Paving Brick Company's red bricks were used in the construction of St. Mary’s and St. Andrew's churches and much of the old city. They were also used to construct many schools in Clifford, Reese, Pontiac, and Sanford Michigan.
1917's rationing of coal, used to cure the bricks, doomed the plant when the war department deemed the plant non-essential. In 1920 the plant was sold to Carde Stamping and Tool Company. The general manager for Carde was a man named R.P. Means, and the plant eventually evolved into what became known as Means Industries, who now manufacture propulsion systems for cars.
1917's rationing of coal, used to cure the bricks, doomed the plant when the war department deemed the plant non-essential. In 1920 the plant was sold to Carde Stamping and Tool Company. The general manager for Carde was a man named R.P. Means, and the plant eventually evolved into what became known as Means Industries, who now manufacture propulsion systems for cars.
These are by far the heaviest bricks SJ owns. The "SAGINAW BLOCK" one is larger and even thicker than the "SAGINAW" stamped one. They are among their favorites.
**Detroit brick update coming soon**
Kentucky Bricks **COMING SOON**
Texas Bricks
We came across a wonderful photo post with Texas red bricks on Facebook in November 2018 by @wanderingcowgirl with various Texas bricks and read:
"From 'Groesbeck Reds' to 'Palmer Pinks' - Texas has made more bricks than any other state. The soil through central Texas is loaded with clay and the inconsistencies of geology helped bricks from each town vary in shade. Of course, the town stamp made the bricks special, and very collectible. Many of the towns are gone, but the bricks remain."
After just a little bit of digging into them we have to say we agree - turns out that Texas bricks are pretty great.
Thurber Brick Company - Austin, Texas
The Texas & Pacific Coal Company absorbed what was the Green and Hunter Brick Company in 1900. When Colonel Hunter died in 1902 the brick company was called the “Thurber Brick Company.” The Thurber Brick Company competed with Acme Brick Company, founded by George Bennett in 1891 in Parker County, and the Cobb brothers’ brick plant, founded in 1907 on Sycamore Creek.
These bricks were widely used to pave streets in Texas towns and were later blacktopped over the top of the bricks. The historic stockyards in Fort Worth and the Galveston Seawall were also major users of Thurbers. The vast majority of bricks used were stamped with the triangle with the letters B T and T in each point of the triangle.
The triangle and little letters indicate the brick was made after 1903 when the operation was finally unionized and the letters represented the Brick, Tile and Terracotta workers.
Texas and Pacific Coal Company drilled for oil just a few miles south near Ranger, Texas. The decreased coal need (manufacturers were moving to oil) paired with new demand for asphalt halted brick manufacturing here in 1931. Soon Thurber was abandoned and became a Ghost Town.
The company salvaged what it could from the old buildings and dynamited the rest. Today all that remains is the tall brick smokestack(!!) and three buildings.
Acme Brick Company - Texas and Oklahoma
Mentioned above, the Acme Brick Company started in 1891 in Bennett, Texas and are still in business at brick.com, earning major bragging rights for that alone in my opinion. The company grew to become the largest American brick manufacturer by the mid-20th century and were the first to offer a 100-year limited guarantee on their bricks. Acme even hired Troy Aikman from the Dallas Cowboys as a spokesperson in the 1990s.
Acme was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway in 2000. They currently only manufacture in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma after closing operations in 4 other states.
Groesbeck Brick Company - Groesbeck, Texas
Someone has put together a great webpage about Groesbeck bricks, also known as "Groesbeck Reds," which were made around 1938 HERE. It's a pretty neat synchronicity story about the author's interest in these bricks that reminds me a bit of SJ's, if we do say so myself. Also, someone is making knives out of old Groesbecks, which we think is super awesome.
Cole Brick Company/Ferris Brick Company - Ferris, Texas
Ferris, Texas has been called "The Brick Capital of the Nation" as recently as 1950. In 1895, J. T. Hurst formed the Atlas Brick Company. The Ferris Press Brick Company was incorporated in April 1901 and was followed by the Globe Press Brick Company in 1905. The Lone Star Press Brick Company was in operation by 1915.
1919 was a big year for Ferris brickmaking with the formation of the Green Press Brick Company, Diamond Press Brick Company, Cole Press Brick Company, and the Kooken Press Brick Company. Before 1920 Ferris was producing 350,000 bricks each day with a maximum capacity of 500,000. Bricks were shipped by both rail and wagon.
In 1923, six brick companies merged into the Ferris Brick Company: Ferris, Globe, Lone Star, Diamond, Cole and Kooken Press. The new consolidated Ferris Brick Company, run by Troy Wilson, was also famous for its show mules. Their motto was “We Work Show Mules and We Show Work Mules.” These Ferris Brick Company mules won livestock shows all over the nation. The two mules, Bird and Lottie, became quite a famous pair.
SJ's son's name is Cole, so they had to have this Cole brick. This brick has the same Common Brick Makers Association logo on the front that are on many older bricks, including some Hiddens.
Mystery Bricks SJ has adopted.
This 1977 brick was made with a similar mold and "font" as Hiddens - but there's no way it's a Hidden. It's turned brittle and cracking in places and almost flaking in spots.
This brick is clearly not alluvial silt from around here. They purchased this brick from someone in New York online.
This 1929 is either a Kern or a Hidden - it is softer than most Hiddens, but salvaged from a site with both Hiddens and Kerns. Mortar removal (which clearly occurred) could have weakened it also. SJ believes it is a Hidden as there are some that look like it at the Providence Academy.
Souvenir Bricks of America
Up until around the 1990s it wasn't uncommon to visit a historic site that was linked to brickmaking and have the option to purchase or make a small souvenir brick. Additionally, many brick companies (like Acme, mentioned above) made small bricks for use as paperweights as giveaways from brick salespeople.
Nauvoo, Illinois is an important location in Mormon history, and small souvenir bricks in several sizes were made on site for tourists until the 1990s. We plan on taking a closer look at Nauvoo, the Masonic ties to the LDS Church, and the fascinating (and sad) story about their abandoned Nauvoo Temple with one of our Liminal.Earth Ambassadors Camilla Gluh, a practicing Mormon, in a future episode of Two Witches Podcast.