The busy, and I would say, extremely hectic, intersection of Gravois and Chippewa once was home to one of the Hydraulic Press Brick Company’s brick yards, which you can see above in this Sanborn Map from 1903. I think what is also fascinating is how absolutely deserted the area was around the factory back at the turn of the Twentieth Century, as well.
While these photographs, at unidentified locations, are not necessarily at this particular brickyard, they give us an idea of what the brick and terracotta industry looked like in St. Louis.
The ovens must have been something else to enter, right after being heated to extreme temperatures. The coal was mined right under the hills of St. Louis, along with the clay. Very convenient.
But what I really enjoyed were the pictures above and below; look at the size of those pipes!
All sorts of ancillary businesses popped as well around the clay mines.
Nearby, east on Chippewa was this little flower pot factory.
Hello Chris, very much enjoyed the pics of the clay kilns and workmen. Recently returned to visiting your website. A couple of years ago, I made a request if you’d look at my old neigbor hood-Pine Lawn. Iconic places there include Goody Goody restaurant , St Paul the Apostle Church and school . we resided on 3914 Phibrook . Family moved to U.City in 1965( I was 8 years old). Again, love your work Sincerely, Steve
Hmm, I don’t think I remember that, but I can certainly check those out if I’m in the area.
I felt that “Brick by Brick: Building St. Louis and the Nation, April 15 – July 31, 2004” organized by Samuel Cupples House at Saint Louis University was a good introduction to the topic of the brickmaking and brick building in the city. A book length examination, instead of the relatively short exhibition catalogue, would be nice to have.
I missed that exhibit because I was still living in Washington, DC, at the time.
Greetings random internet person, I have lived in this neighborhood for about 35 years, on and off but have owned a home here for 20 years near this site. I can’t plant anything in the ground it is solid clay here, but I like living here the area has a very interesting history. Besides the clay and also coal mines, (there were over twenty of them just in my neighborhood) there was a French Socialist commune here at one time too. They originated from Navoo, Illinois and were called Icarians. They followed a philosopher named Etienne Cabet.
More on Terra Cotta clay factory in Cheltenham
http://web.nationalbuildingarts.org/collections/clay-products/terra-cotta/winkle-terra-cotta-company/
I worked at a company that made clay tile pipe in 1972 in Pittsburg , Ks. When a kiln is opened the heat coming out of it will set heavy duty work gloves on fire. very hard and dirty job.
Wow, that’s amazing!