Clinton's Centennial
Price Operated Big Brick-Yard: Furnished Million Bricks for Bettendorf
One of the largest brick-yards in this section of the middle west once was operated in a block square area northwest of the intersection of 1st Ave. and
5th St.
It began production about 65 years ago and while there were several owners before it closed, shortly after World War I, it is most familiarly known by the old-timers as "Price's Brickyard."
Tom Price, who later became Clinton fire chief, was owner and operator of the establishment for many years.
Horses furnished the little motive power required for the brick-making operation, most of it being done by hand.
A special clay was hauled into the yards from the area just west of the Mt. Pleasant park area. Into each of the five pits were dumped about 10 loads. This was thoroughly soaked.
To eliminate any lumps, the clay was ground between rollers kept in motion by a horse attached to a long pole and which moved in a circle. To keep the horse from bolting, it was blindfolded.
The moist clay was rolled out like dough, put into moulds and then allowed to dry in the sun for about 10 days, the bricks were placed in kilns for final drying. Two men could produce 15,000 bricks a day. Price eventually sold out his interests and for a time they yard was operated by John Bull and Henry Price.
After the yard closed, the area served as a carnival grounds for several years until construction of homes began.
Pressed Bricks Produced Here: Popular During the Early 1900's
The Iowa Granite Brick Co. produced bricks used in many
A white, concrete pressed brick, manufactured here in Clinton was popular with contractors in the early 1900's.
The brick was used in many Clinton buildings. The ones produced at the outset of the Clinton plant bore the initials "I. G. B." for Iowa Granite Brick company. Only recently a large number of them were found when the walls of the original Herald building were removed during the current expansion program.
One of the large buildings which utilized the bricks almost exclusively was the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
When the firm was organized in 1904, M. J. Gates was president; E. M. Nagle, vice president; G. E. Lamb, treasurer; and J. D. Lamb, secretary.
The office was located at 417 S. 2nd St., but the plant used one of the old stone buildings which once was part of the Lamb sawmills at the foot of 11th Ave. S.
The plant continued operations until about 1916.
SOURCE: Centennial Edition, Clinton Herald, Clinton Iowa, 18 June 1955
