The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22

,-XN<A Fletcher. About the first
rSS-IE indication of a menufact-
AFT]A uring interest in q new
EzIA AN town, especially in the early
NIM TIL days, was blacksmith and
wagon-shop. brick-yard
and q lanyard. There were few towns in
this Western country. as Indiana was
called, even MP to the time after the war.
that could not boast of these three estab-
lishments The site of Indianapolis was
located in 1920. and a few cabins only were
put mp in that year. In 1921 began a grad
ual influx from the East and Southeast
This whole section was q dense forest;
houses were built from the most conven-
lent material, which was, of course, the
natural round logs cut in clearing the land.
Stick-chImneys daubed with mud. were
all that was necessary; bricks were not
needed, and had they been 1t would have
been almost impossible TO establish brick
yard, as there was hardly rod of ground
clear of tough. green roots IN this locality.
The first backyard in Indianapolis was
located on the north side of Washington
street, just east of Liberty street. and
operated by Wilkes Reagan, and the frst
brick building IS still standing-it was
built with brick made on this yard-lt Is
227 East Washington street, south side, be-
tween New Jersey and East. This was
The home OF Mr.. McDougal, father Of John
and Ray. and where the two latter were
born. Mr.. Reagan. 10 1921. removed has
yard from East Washington street. and
located just south or South street and west
Of Alabama street. Joseph +. WIngate
also had a yard about this same time In
this locality. There was also yard, In
1870 or 1880, on the east side OF East street,
between Louisiana and Georgia streets,
but cannot learn who was the proprietor.
Simon Yandes, who is well known TO al
most every citizen of Indianapolis. came
here with his father. Daniel Yandes In
Mach, 1921. Mr.. YaIfdes worked on one or
the yards located near Alabama and South
street off, bearing brick in 1927 and 1e2s.
Jacob Turner. in 1882. began making the
brick for the old State house on the ground
between Oriental and State streets, south
of Washington. This required several
years work the State bonse not being CON-
pleted until 1886 or 1897. These brick were
made BIZ Mr.. Turner as superintendent
under the direct management of the State
house commissioners. who seem to have
been as strict and honest q lot OF men as
the last commissioners for the new State
house, as evidenced W hen tearing down the
old house by Contractor John Martin, who
states that a better lot of hard burned
brick never went into building
This shows that there was NO job.
IN the brick work at least, by work
ing off soft brick IN the old State
house. and we all know there were no Jobs
of any kind In building the new. The
bricks made by Mr.. Turner for this work
were what are called slop brick. j. g., the
ficient lump of mud. cut from the mass on
the table with both hands and slapped on
the wet mold, without sanding the latter
or rolling the walk. The mold was then
struck off by wet-strIke stick, outing
both ways. instead of using q bow and
wire. Dir. Turner also made brick after
this on the west side of Virginia avenue,
beyond Noble street.
Henry Brady s. A. Fletcher. ST., and q
Mr.. Douglas were the interested parties in
yard in 1888 to 1886. situated about where
Deans pump-works are now located on
Madison avenue. known as Bradly's
b,ick-yard. On referring this to an oldest
citizen," he says he thinks 1t was
located much further west This yard was
under the management of John Greer, who
was after ards one OF our leading brick
makers. He established yard of his own
in connection with Nathan Palmer, in 1889.
on Meridian street, then known as the
Bluff road, south of UnderhilPs mill-after-
ward. In 1875, on Virginia avenue, under
the firm name of Greer x Walters. This
tereectS the avenue, and beyond what was
then called Stevens's woods, which was a
heavy, thick piece of tim Der running from
South to Stevens street. It was q rough,
billy piece of ground. and a great place for
May parties In the early days. McNab &
Co. also carried on the business in that To-
cality for a mum Der OF years.
From 1896 TO 1910 old John Pharris made
brick on what is now Clifford avenue east
of Woodruff Place; this Is the first yard
established north of Washington street
that can find any record OF except that of
Wilkes Reagan in 1924. William Huey run
eyard just north of Louisiana street and
west OF n oble from 1888 TO 1S4S. and William
Budd yard near the same locality. from
1885 20 1872. Mr.. Budd made the brick for
the Isaac Kinder house on Washington
street This was noted house for many
years. 1t was remodeled few years ago
and il now occupied by Fullers cloak
house.
HE REvoLUTIoNIZED THE TRADE.
There was q noted character working on
Huey's yard about 1910 and for several
years after nj ned Jerry Sullivan. Sulii-
van bad servet a term for some trivial
offeuse, and while stopping at Jefferson
VILE had been employed in the States
brick-yard, where the daily task Of o table
WAS 5000 brick. The gang of a table con-
sists OF a molder, mud W heller and off
bearer. These three men become experts in
their particular work. which really be-
comes q trade, Until Sullivan's advent into
btick.yar circles in Indianapolis the work
of a table was from eco to 1000 only and
it was thought to be the limit of gangs
ability. Sullivan took the head of table
Huey's yard and turned out his
5000 brick with ease, but to the
great disgust of his mud wheeler and
otf-bearer. This feat soon became the talk
of the other yards. and il was decided
among the craft that this thing must be
stopped. or their bosses would demand
Ike number for a days work, and Sullivan
was notified that he must drop u thousand
or two or leave town, but be modestly in
formed the boys that It required the exer-
else of making five thousand bricks per
day to get up his appetite and keep his
digestion IN good running order, and that
be didn't propose TO drop. nor leave the
digins. and If they didn't like his way of
doing business. just to come over and he
would sweep the yard with them. Now
fighting was simply apastime with brick
yarders In those days. and this was right
10 their hand. Sullivan was full six feet
in his stockings. muscular. loose jointed
and wiry. 1t Is needless to detail the re-
suit. but enough 10 state that live thousand
bricks per day has been the established
task per table on every hand-yard from
that day to this.
John +. Hill and o Mr.. Rodgers made
brick III 1919 TO 1882. south of Washington
street. near State. near the old Turner
yard; then hill alone south of the Michigan
road and west of State. Rodgers goiD north
of Washington street on Arsenal avenue.
whore he made for many years.
Captain Cane and Charley Leonard
etarred yard in 1916 just north of the old
Decline railroad and east of Orange ave-
nue.. CAPTAIN Cane huiIdinO n atiIl hon On at