HISTORIES: "Brick Manufacture" in Barron, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Mott 29 June 2000 ==================================================================== Brick Manufacture A brick making plant operated in the southern city limits east of highway 25 in the nineties. In 1908 it was moved to the west side of the highway. It continued to operate until about 1914. It then ceased operation and was never reopened. The name of this firm was, for a time at least, the Barron Red Pressed Brick Company. In 1901, George H. Carey was the owner of the plant. At that time, the capacity of the plant was 40,000 brick per day. Mr. Carey came to Barron in 1894 and worked her for the Soo railroad. He was born in Vermont in 1860. The plant which was erected on the west side of the highway was a larger structure, 30 by 200 feet and 12 feet high. The capacity of this plant was 60,000 brick per day. Joe Kohl, Gregory Koerner and William Gillette were owners for some time. William Gillette acted as foreman for awhile. A crew of about 21 was employed. The kilns were heated with pine wood. Horses drew the clay from the clay beds to the plant. Wheel-barrows were used to load the box cars. Many buildings in the City of Barron are constructed of these brick. Some of them are: The Ward School, the Normanna Bank Building, the Barron Hotel, the City Fire House and some of them went into the construction of the Barron County Court House, which was built in 1901. --From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960 (used by permission)