The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-09
TIE FIRST BRICKS.


Lewis E. Morgan. who, according to re-
cent dispatch from philadelphia, made the
first bricks ever used in this city, died in
Philadelphia last Monday.
Whether Mr.. Morgan made the first bricks
used here or not is Il matter ab ut which
there is some difference of opinion among
the pioneers, who remember when ard
where the first bri k building was erected.
Among these is J. f. Marshall, who came
here as a carpenter in the fnrties and helped
do the woodwork on Miller & Towards
building on Montgomery street. near Clay,
adjoining THE MORNING CALL Office On the
south. VIII ch was built in 1919, being the
first brick building erected here.
In speaking of the first buildings erected
here Mr.. Marshall said:
'No, don't know just where or the exact
date bricks were first burned here, but it
was some time in 40, and l think out near
where Larkin street now is and on the side
Of hill to the right of the present line of
Union street Lumber though, being more
In my line, l remember more about. 1t
came from the other side of the BAY, some
from Santa Cruz, but most OF it came from
COte MADEIRA. AID on account of the
scarcity of procurable labor at the mills it
was very scarce, and what little there was
10 De lau was very hlSn.
"While ! was at work on the old Parker
House. which occupied the present site of
the Old City Hall, l remember hearing II
said that the lumber used in lis eonstruc-
ton cost the builders 81 per foot, and
guess il was so, because the lumber used in
buildings some time after that cost ordi-
narily fiom $500 to 5000 a thousand and
some of il much more.
yqs | raD,au N, bsr &c do nf tho
early builders. the first houses built here
after 1913. One of them was built for a
residence for Charles L. Rosa and stood on
Washington street. just above Portsmouth
square. 1t was frame building, and for
some time after completion was used as a
church.
Then there was the old City Hotel. at the
corner OF Kcarny and Pacific streets, and
the Little frame building IN Clay street,
where DR.. LeaVenwuTth held the first court,
and many more, more or less interes ling on
account OF early associations.
The first sch0olhouse was built of wood.
and stool on Clay street, l believe. a short
di stance above Kearny. This was also
used as place for religious meetings."
Police CAPTAIN Short was seen at Pioneer
Hall and asked il he remembered who made
the first brick here and where they were
burned.
II cannot say positively" said the can
tair, 'but very early in 1850 there were
some men Ivy the name Of Buckley burning
bricks on the side Of hill off to the right of
where Union street now runs and the other
side of Llrkn street.
Union street had not been cut through
at that time and the brickyards were
reached by a trail running zigzag through
the chaIraral After a while, when more
buildings were put up and people began TO
move into that quarter, the Supervisors
passed nm ordinance prohibiting brick
burning in the neighborhOod. and after
fighting the law for three years the Buck
leys had to move"
1T is quite likely that the first bricks
were made by Marshall, though where l am
unable to say.
"One of the first brick buildings 1 remem-
Der here was residence at the corner of
Washington and Powell streets. 1t was
first one and half story affair but as the
street has been cut down the house has been
built up from the bottom until now il is
three stories high.
IN tell you something about early brick
work here which may be interesting.
refer TO the first Jail built in he city.
There was brig came from Baltimore,
with cargo Of brick and cement, at about
the time Hays was elected Sheriff, and he
was authorized 20 buy the cargo and have a
jail built. The bricks were tr.fle smaller
than the usual size and very hard, and the
cement was of the first quality.
well, the Jail was built and consisted OF
fifteen cells and an Office, all in one story.
Go down to the County Jail now and you
will find that the building is built on the
old structure, which Is as solid as a rock
aud firmer now than when it was built.
Some years since | had prisoner there
who was TO be taken to the penitentiary in
the course of a coupIe'of weeks. and during
all that time he worked with might and
main and did not succeed in removing even
the cement around one brick
IF any one doubts this statement am
prepared to furnish the tools and let him
try to dig out unmolested in month"