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Picture: It was probably taken in ’89 or ’90 before the other kilns were built. Left to right (on tile) John F. Boling, J. N. Boling, C. O. Boling, David Claney, Ed Paist, Herb Williams (on tile), Dave Dwinnell, Rudolph Koering, George Stueland (on barrel), Charles and Billy Koering (in doorway), George Paist (little boy on car), Tom E. McGowan, Hy. Kettler, Chas. Hoyman, Hy. Meyer. Anderson and A. J. Boling are the other men. Chas. Hoyman and Bill Koering are the only ones living today.

THE TILE FACTORY

       During the summer of 1886, John N. Boling and David Claney, brothers-in-law, who lived on adjoining farms about five miles northeast of Stanwood decided to form a partnership and engage in the business of manufacture of brick and tile.

       After looking at several locations they decided to locate in Stanwood and purchased an acreage on the east edge of town. As they were inexperienced in their venture they hired Charles and Amos Milhouse from the east of United States to supervise the building and installation of machinery.

       This building was approximately 100’ long and 50’ wide, facing the east-west highway, with a railroad track built at the south side of the plant for the purpose of loading brick and tile in cars for shipment. As the firm also sold coal, it was also used for this purpose. The building was three stories high, and each floor had an inch or two of open space between the boards so air and steam could have good circulation necessary for drying the brick and tile.

       As mud was used to form the brick a mud pit was at the north end of the plant, with a narrow gauge track built from the pit to the large mud room. When a car was filled, a signal was given to the engineer by a bell, and the car and two men would be drawn up a twelve foot incline by steam power, the car emptied, and returned to the pit.

       The cutting machine adjoined the mud room, and after the brick and tile were cut they were placed on a conveyor and taken to the floor workers, placed on a track and set on the end of the floor. After being dried they were ready for the kiln, being moved by trucks to an outside elevator on the west end and placed in the kiln. At first two kilns were built, but it was necessary to add two more later.

       Bricks were not only sold locally but also in carload lots to other areas, especially to Calamus and Wheatland buyers. Present day examples of homes in Stanwood built of brick from the tile factory include the William Hansen residence and that of Catherina Kohrt, south of the Methodist church.

       By 1897 Mr. Boling and his sons were sole owners of the factory which was giving employment to about 15 men regularly and to additional ones when cars were being loaded for shipment.

       Mr. Boling’s keen interest in his line of work was evidence in the fact that he was a member of the state Brick and Tile Association, which had meetings in Des Moines. He was president of this organization one term.

       On July 4, 1897 sparks from the Tipton “Plug” ignited materials on the premises of the tile factory and soon the whole establishment was a blaze. Most of the townspeople were away celebrating the Glorious Fourth in Tipton and the firefighting equipment was completely inadequate. The factory was a total ruin. As none of the machinery could be used again, the factory was not rebuilt. The location of the factory and clay pits is now the field where our high school teams play football and baseball, on a well maintained site.