Name/Title
S05.18.012Description
An old, abandoned kiln at the Nelsonville Brick Kiln Park on the south side of Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio. The Hocking Valley was well known for its brick and tile industry in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Bedrock in the area is from the Pennsylvanian Geologic Period. The image was taken in summer 1999.
REVIEW
For information about the brick industry in Ohio, see: The Paving Brick Industry in Ohio by Steven D. Blankenbeker (Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Report on Ohio Mineral Industries, 1998). or: The Paving Brick Industry in Ohio by Steven D. Blankenbeker (Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Ohio Geology Newsletter, 1999, No.3).
From Wikipedia: In 1877, the Nelsonville Brick Company began their extensive operation. The Nelsonville Block, Hallwood Block, Hocking Block, and the Star Brick were all manufactured by them. In 1880, more kilns and stacks were constructed as an expansion. Nearly twenty-five million blocks and bricks were manufactured each year to keep up with the high demand. The railroads stayed busy transporting their products throughout the Midwest. The blocks and bricks manufactured in Nelsonville were very popular. One of them in particular was known as the king of all pavers, the Nelsonville Block. The salt glazed surface not only made it watertight, it also gave it a distinct and attractive finish. In 1904, the Nelsonville Block won first prize at the World's Fair in St. Louis. The Great Depression, combined with the use of concrete, led to the demise of the Nelsonville Brick Company. In 1937, the plant closed down. Although the main plant is gone, a few kilns and stacks, which were part of the expansion in 1880, still remain. An effort is underway to save the remaining kilns and stacks.
This slide image included in the USGS National Digital Catalog for NGGDPP Grant G15AP00115 in FY2015.Context
Closeup of brick kiln with narrow brick silo seen behind it. Nelsonville Brick Kiln Park in Nelsonville, Ohio.