380:
351:. The university sold it for $ 100,000. In December of the same year, the university files an injunction against the company accusing them of removing top soil and clay from the lot adjacent to the factory to manufacture bricks a few weeks before. A restraining order was issued by the court. However, on April 1, 1885, it is announced that the company purchased 152 acres (62 ha) east of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum (Gallaudet University) from Columbian University ($ 85,000) and the children of Mr. Oyster ($ 20,000).
415:
and stones were thrown in a hopper where they would be crushed by four two feet in diameter rollers. The pulverized clay powder would then drop in a mixing cylinder where it would we steamed. It would then make its way into a vat. A conveyor belt of buckets would collect just enough to form a brick. The wet clay would then fall into a mold before dropping on a conveyor belt. From there they were taken off by men and transported on barrows to a drying room prior to being fired up in the kiln.
146:
221:
of bricks. The attacks were targeted primarily at machine-made bricks as he affirmed that they were smaller and weighed more than the traditional hand-made bricks due to a higher density. These bricks, therefore were not in compliance with the law at the time. By then three quarters of the bricks being made in the city were machine-made. The attacks were a reaction to the threat to the artisans' way of life by mechanization.
270:. It appears that this had not been enforced for some time. A committee representing the Federation of Labor joined the debates with the District Commissioners in the interest of the traditional hand-made manufacturers which they represented. They argued that making the smaller bricks affected the workman's wages as well as raised price of bricks for builders. They promised to provide samples to prove their case.
424:
274:
size was due to the nature of the clay. While the machine molds were smaller, they were packed more compactly then the hand made ones leading to a larger brick once fired. On March 12, 1884, the
Federation of Labor was told of the possibility of an amendment to the law was being discussed but that it was being reviewed by the Engineer Commissioner Lydecker.
402:
neighborhood. The plant covered 10 acres of land in what was at the time rural land. Part of the property was used to mine the fine clay used to make the bricks on site. According to the promoters, it could be mined to a depth of 40 feet. On site, visitors could see several low sheds probably used to
220:
The
Washington Brick Machine Company was at the center of a controversy in the early part of 1884 being a major producer of bricks with 80,000 bricks being made each day. The Sealer of the Weights and Measures, Mr. Small started criticizing the manufacturers for their inconsistency in size and weight
359:
with two alleys running on the back parallel to it. It was estimated that the cost to build the street would range from $ 30,000 to $ 40,000. 105 lots would be available on the square ranging from 20 to 30 feet (6.1 to 9.1 m) on the front. Houses would be built by the company with between 7 and
310:
inches in thickness. Any bricks sold or offered for sale in the said
District under the said size by any brick merchant will subject the said merchant to a penalty of $ 50 fine or 60 days in jail for the first offense, or both, and $ 500 fine or one year in Jail, or both, for the second offense; the
277:
It appears that the underlying reason for this controversy had to do with the unfair competition experienced by the traditional manufacturers. The
Washington Brick Machine Company along with A. Richards & Son, William H. West & Brothers, W.T. Walker, Ino P. Appleman and I.P. childs & Son
273:
The
Washington Brick Machine Company and other brick manufactures brought samples to the Inspector of Buildings Entwisle to have them measures. They were said to come from the standard molds. While they were brought to the wrong office he gave his opinion on the matter stating that the difference in
414:
and introduced to
Washington, DC by S. E. Henkins representing the National Brick Machine Company based in New Jersey allowing for the manufacturing of between 40,000 and 60,000 bricks a day. This machine was powered by a forty-horsepower engine (housed in the main building). Barrows of loose clay
319:
On May 15, 1884, two accidents involving wagons owned by the
Washington Brick Machine Company were involved in crashes with children. The first one occurred in an alley between 9th Street NW and 19th Street NW. The driver was named Alfred Robinson and the victim was a 14-year-old boy named Henry
354:
Later that year on June 10, 1885, it was announced that the company was going to develop a new residential complex on square 1003 between 12th and 13th Street NE and H Street NE and I Street NE. A new 44 feet (13 m) wide street would be laid in the middle of the square and be called
281:
On May 26, 1884, the
Committee on Bricks of the Federation of Labor submitted an amendment to the law to Major Lydecker: All bricks sold or offered for sale in the District of Columbia, except cornice or fancy bricks, shall measure not less than 9 inches in length,
327:. He was taken to his house and died ten minutes later. The driver was arrested by the police. On May 17, Robert Duvall was first charged with reckless driving before was charged with manslaughter and sent to a grand jury. The charge was ignored on June 10, 1884
278:
manufactured three quarters of the bricks used in the city. This represented 50 million bricks at the time. The hand-made bricks represented a fraction of sales and the wages were falling as they were not competitive with the machines.
203:
Henry M. Teller that the
Washington Brick Machine Company has signed a contract to provide 600,000 pressed bricks at $ 10.93 per thousand and 9 million common bricks at $ 7.93 per thousand for the new Pension Office Building (now the
776:
335:
Starting in 1884, the company also started diversifying its business. While it was still making bricks, it was also buying land for real estate development. It purchased the tract of land known as
323:
The second one involved brick wagon # 17 driven by Robert Duvall who ran over
Charles Hassler, an eight-year-old boy. The crash occurred at the corner of 1st St NE and H Street NE in the heart of
157:. Operating in the northeastern quadrant of the city, it made bricks using a machine as opposed to the more traditional way of molded by hand. This brought prices down in the period following the
379:
171:
For the first decade of its life the company won several big bids with the Federal Government to provide bricks. On September 14, 1876, following a request for bid from the office of
410:
It employed 23 men working in various roles focused around a new machine in 1874 which allowed for the manufacturing of bricks to be industrialized. The machine was
187:. On July 6, 1880, the company is awarded the contract for the North Wing of the State, War and Navy Building, having the lowest bid price. On July 4, 1881,
786:
454:
343:) on October 17, 1884. This piece of land represented 150 acres located north of Boundary Street (now Florida Avenue NE) between Kendall Green (now
407:
used to fire the bricks were also on-site and the company was building ovens to dry the bricks and no longer rely on sunny days to dry the bricks.
200:
390:
The Washington Brick Company operated from the northeast quadrant of the city. Its manufacturing plant was located off of Boundary Street (now
781:
433:
176:
117:
320:
York. The wagon was stalled and when the team started, the swingtree knocked the boy down and a wheel rolled over his legs. He survived.
116:
starting in 1874. Its bricks were machine made and were used extensively across the city in major buildings still standing including the
195:
awards the company the extension of the Government Printing Office. The price was $ 6.93 per thousand. On January 2, 1883, General
149:
The Pension Office Building built in 1883 (now the National Building Museum), featuring Washington Brick Machine Company bricks.
175:, the company was awarded the contract for 1.5 million burned red bricks to be used for the construction of the east side of
440:
340:
324:
180:
121:
395:
399:
336:
347:) and Bladensburg Pike (now Bladensburg Road NE). It had been donated to the university several years before by
460:
205:
192:
188:
162:
125:
348:
344:
166:
363:
On September 15, 1894, the company field a deed to transfer all assets from the old company to the
196:
145:
172:
158:
209:
113:
82:
63:
52:
179:. On August 30, 1879, the company is awarded the contract to furnish the bricks for the
427:
National Museum (now Arts and Industries Building) featuring bricks made by the company
391:
33:
705:
An Injunction Against the Brick Company - The National Republican - December 12, 1884.
770:
69:
486:
The Washington Brick Machine Company - The National Republican, November 11, 1874
444:
423:
403:
dry the bricks, a large building containing an engine and the machine room. The
184:
531:
Washington Brick Machine Company Advertisement - Evening Star August 30, 1879
603:
The Use and Manufacture of Bricks in the City - Evening Star - June 14, 1884
367:. This allowed the company to legally change its name by removing the word
266:
in clear was not being enforced. The molds were also required to be marked
621:
The Brickmakers and their bricks - The Evening Critic - February 20, 1884
507:
The New Wrinkle in Brick Making - Evening Star - 23 October 1874 - Page 4
567:
New Pension Office Building - The National Republican - February 5, 1883
161:
when Washington, DC was growing and modernizing under the leadership of
741:
Brickmakers' Cottages - National Republican - June 11, 1885 - page 4
387:
The offices of the company were located at 1420 New York Avenue NW.
750:
Auction Advertisement - Evening Star - April 29, 1887 - supplement
153:
The company was incorporated in 1874 and was originally named the
612:
Protested against small bricks - Evening Star - February 13, 1884
678:
Duvall held for a Grand Jury - The Evening Critic - May 22, 1884
404:
383:
Map showing the Washington Brick Company lot in 1907 in Trinidad
360:
10 rooms. However, most of the houses built were not this big.
660:
Two Boys Run Over by Brick Carts - Evening Star - May 16, 1884
555:
Large Contract of Bricks Awarded - Evening Star - July 4, 1881
311:
said fines to be collected the same as other District fines."
759:
Brick Manufacturers - National Republican - December 7, 1883
224:
An October 30, 1820 ordinance setting the size of bricks to
648:
District Government Affairs - Evening Star - May 26, 1884
268:"stamped as correct by the sealer of weight and measures"
585:
The Size of Bricks - The Evening Star - February 1, 1884
432:
1876: State, War and Navy Building (East Side) (now the
777:
Demolished buildings and structures in Washington, D.C.
669:
charged with Manslaughter - Evening Star - May 17, 1884
576:
The Brick Question Again - Evening Star - March 5, 1884
112:
was a brick manufacturing company which operated in
639:
The Brick Question - Evening Star - March 19, 1884.
96:
88:
76:
58:
47:
39:
29:
21:
630:The Size of Bricks - Evening Star - March 12, 1884
594:The Brick Question - Evening Star - March 19, 1884
527:
525:
563:
561:
450:1880: State, War and Navy Building (North Wing)
656:
654:
519:Evening Star - September 14, 1876 - front page
714:National Republican - April 01, 1885 - page 4
515:
513:
8:
482:
480:
478:
476:
16:
539:
537:
696:The National Republican - October 17, 1884
15:
551:
549:
494:
492:
543:Local News - Evening Star - July 6, 1880
422:
378:
144:
472:
459:1883: Pension Office Building (now the
723:Evening Star - April 11, 1885 - page 5
732:Evening star - June 10, 1885 - page 5
687:Evening Star - June 10, 1884 - page 1
7:
434:Eisenhower Executive Office Building
118:Eisenhower Executive Office Building
455:Government Printing Office Building
128:. In 1894, the company becomes the
14:
787:Near Northeast (Washington, D.C.)
155:Washington Brick Machine Company
110:Washington Brick Machine Company
102:23 factory employees (1874)
25:Washington Brick Machine Company
498:Evening Star September 15, 1894
439:1879: National Museum (now the
339:from Columbian University (now
1:
441:Arts and Industries Building
341:George Washington University
177:State, War and Navy Building
122:Arts and Industries Building
782:History of Washington, D.C.
394:) where it intersects with
803:
173:General Orville E. Babcock
201:Secretary of the Interior
163:Alexander "Boss" Shepherd
461:National Building Museum
365:Washington Brick Company
206:National Building Museum
193:Architect of the Capitol
130:Washington Brick Company
126:National Building Museum
17:Washington Brick Company
453:1881: Extension of the
331:Real Estate Investments
428:
384:
216:Brick Size Controversy
150:
426:
382:
148:
345:Gallaudet University
296:inches in width and
167:William Dennison Jr.
398:in what is now the
349:William W. Corcoran
197:Montgomery C. Meigs
165:and his successor,
98:Number of employees
43:brick manufacturing
18:
429:
385:
151:
106:
105:
794:
760:
757:
751:
748:
742:
739:
733:
730:
724:
721:
715:
712:
706:
703:
697:
694:
688:
685:
679:
676:
670:
667:
661:
658:
649:
646:
640:
637:
631:
628:
622:
619:
613:
610:
604:
601:
595:
592:
586:
583:
577:
574:
568:
565:
556:
553:
544:
541:
532:
529:
520:
517:
508:
505:
499:
496:
487:
484:
309:
308:
304:
301:
295:
294:
290:
287:
265:
264:
260:
257:
251:
250:
246:
243:
237:
236:
232:
229:
210:Judiciary Square
114:Washington, D.C.
83:Washington, D.C.
64:Washington, D.C.
53:Washington, D.C.
19:
802:
801:
797:
796:
795:
793:
792:
791:
767:
766:
763:
758:
754:
749:
745:
740:
736:
731:
727:
722:
718:
713:
709:
704:
700:
695:
691:
686:
682:
677:
673:
668:
664:
659:
652:
647:
643:
638:
634:
629:
625:
620:
616:
611:
607:
602:
598:
593:
589:
584:
580:
575:
571:
566:
559:
554:
547:
542:
535:
530:
523:
518:
511:
506:
502:
497:
490:
485:
474:
470:
421:
412:Graham's patent
377:
333:
317:
306:
302:
299:
297:
292:
288:
285:
283:
262:
258:
255:
253:
248:
244:
241:
239:
234:
230:
227:
225:
218:
181:National Museum
143:
138:
99:
92:red clay bricks
79:
72:
66:
12:
11:
5:
800:
798:
790:
789:
784:
779:
769:
768:
762:
761:
752:
743:
734:
725:
716:
707:
698:
689:
680:
671:
662:
650:
641:
632:
623:
614:
605:
596:
587:
578:
569:
557:
545:
533:
521:
509:
500:
488:
471:
469:
466:
465:
464:
457:
451:
448:
443:) designed by
437:
420:
419:Major Projects
417:
392:Florida Avenue
376:
373:
332:
329:
316:
313:
217:
214:
142:
139:
137:
134:
104:
103:
100:
97:
94:
93:
90:
86:
85:
80:
77:
74:
73:
68:
62:
60:
56:
55:
49:
45:
44:
41:
37:
36:
31:
27:
26:
23:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
799:
788:
785:
783:
780:
778:
775:
774:
772:
765:
756:
753:
747:
744:
738:
735:
729:
726:
720:
717:
711:
708:
702:
699:
693:
690:
684:
681:
675:
672:
666:
663:
657:
655:
651:
645:
642:
636:
633:
627:
624:
618:
615:
609:
606:
600:
597:
591:
588:
582:
579:
573:
570:
564:
562:
558:
552:
550:
546:
540:
538:
534:
528:
526:
522:
516:
514:
510:
504:
501:
495:
493:
489:
483:
481:
479:
477:
473:
467:
462:
458:
456:
452:
449:
446:
442:
438:
435:
431:
430:
425:
418:
416:
413:
408:
406:
401:
397:
393:
388:
381:
374:
372:
370:
366:
361:
358:
352:
350:
346:
342:
338:
330:
328:
326:
321:
315:Wagon Crashes
314:
312:
279:
275:
271:
269:
222:
215:
213:
211:
207:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
169:
168:
164:
160:
156:
147:
141:The Beginning
140:
135:
133:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
101:
95:
91:
87:
84:
81:
75:
71:
70:United States
65:
61:
57:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
35:
32:
28:
24:
20:
764:
755:
746:
737:
728:
719:
710:
701:
692:
683:
674:
665:
644:
635:
626:
617:
608:
599:
590:
581:
572:
503:
411:
409:
389:
386:
368:
364:
362:
357:Wylie Street
356:
353:
334:
322:
318:
280:
276:
272:
267:
223:
219:
199:informs the
189:Edward Clark
183:designed by
170:
154:
152:
129:
109:
107:
59:Headquarters
30:Company type
445:Adolf Cluss
396:H Street NE
185:Adolf Cluss
78:Area served
771:Categories
468:References
375:Operations
325:Swampoodle
159:Civil War
400:Trinidad
337:Trinidad
89:Products
51:1874 in
40:Industry
22:Formerly
369:machine
305:⁄
291:⁄
261:⁄
247:⁄
233:⁄
136:History
48:Founded
34:Public
405:kilns
208:) on
252:and
124:and
108:The
773::
653:^
560:^
548:^
536:^
524:^
512:^
491:^
475:^
463:).
371:.
238:x
212:.
191:,
132:.
120:,
67:,
447:.
436:)
307:4
303:1
300:+
298:2
293:2
289:1
286:+
284:4
263:4
259:1
256:+
254:2
249:8
245:5
242:+
240:4
235:4
231:1
228:+
226:9
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
