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A 1988-1991 photo taken from the grain-elevator across from plant.- Mark Hill
Thanksgiving meal inside a kiln at Medora brick plant ~ 1952
With the smoke stacks and kilns of the Medora Brick Plant
in the background
(right)
this Sparksville Baltimore & Ohio Railroad section crew poses
at the head of the brick plant spur. No
date or names known, but if you have information on this photo,
please
email info@medorabrickplant.org
Owner Joe Robertson (back row far right)
poses with employees of the Medora Brick Plant circa 1926. From the photo
submitted by George L. Shepard of Seymour shared and run in
The Banner
in 1981.
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3rd Annual Medora Covered Bridge Festival
&
Bernard
Gray
the marker site outside of 106 Years Ago
July
8, 1904 - formed stock co. Aug.
2, 1904 8:00am A 50-man workforce once produced 54,000 handmade
bricks a day at the Medora Brick Plant. Founded in 1904 the company built
a plant and began brick production in about 1907. The B & O Railroad tracks at the edge of the plant complex carried Medora brick to pave streets throughout the Midwest initially. In 1925 after financial troubles stemming from an economic slowdown prior to the Depression the plant went into bankruptcy. It was then purchased at auction by the owners of Jackson Brick & Hollow Ware Co. of Brownstown, Indiana. Thereafter the Medora plant concentrated on wall brick for facing new buildings while the Brownstown company focused on drain tile. Joseph Robertson served as President of both companies until about 1941. After WWII James P. Heller became President. The plant operated between nine and ten months out of the year producing standard and custom brick until it officially closed January 31, 1992. Medora resident today, Bernard A. Gray worked the plant since 1946 and was Superintendent for the plant's last 24 years of operation. His father Ralph was superintendent before him beginning in about 1935. His brother Erridine served as the plant's salesman. Bernard Gray knows brick. Especially Medora Brick! Several interviews with Mr. Gray are included in this website along with photos from his personal collection as well as others. The company had over the years built a complex of 12 brick kilns with 7 tall square stacks complimenting them. The round, domed (beehive) kilns have arched doors on two sides along with 10 small openings at the their base for feeding the kiln's fire. A long, covered storage shed was constructed parallel with the rail siding. A smaller shed sat in the middle of the complex. Also still standing are a horse barn with an employees changing and showering addition with accompanying 2-holer frame outhouse, a machine shop and power plant building , walls of another brick building and the small office. The large frame shale processing & brick forming building was dismantled after the plant ceased operation. The mechanicals and equipment were taken to other brick plants in Indiana. In 2004, the site was named to the 10 Most Endangered Landmarks list by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Ten domed kilns remain with 5 stacks (the 'five sisters') along with four small buildings. The plant site points to our proud industrial and local heritage with a special bow to the plant workers and their families.
Note - the Medora Brick Plant site is
privately owned and IS NOT open
email info@medorabrickplant.org
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Site last updated July 1, 2010 by
Steve Graves
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