Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-24

The incxhaustible supply of clay is the
most important requirement. and in
that respect Watcrvillc is highly fay-
"r"d: sand. also necessary in large
quantities. is nowhere more plentiful
ana moreover it is near enough to be
readily obtained. The water supply, an
other important factor. is uncxceled.
There we have the three most essential
elements for brick making. close ut
hand. ana sufficient in amount 1t was
therefore natural that the townsmon
should take up the making of bricks
a. an industry.
In the early days T am told that
bricks were made on the land west Of
Water street. near the Lockwood Com
panY'S tenement houses This Yard WAS
run by Il f. Blanchard Its produc,
was disposed Of partly at home and
partly shipped down the river in boats
For many years during the middle of
the last century George Wentworth
made bricks on Upper Main street on
the west side. Just north of the Hayden
brook. lie Kept q dozen men and sew
cral horses busy in his yard at thai
time. The bricks he made were sold in
Watcrvillc. and surrounding towns. and
SHIPMENTS of considerable amounts
were made ly rail. Stacy Wentworth, 4
brother to George. also made bricks be
lore the Year 1880 on the land short
distance southwest of his brothers.
ard This was upon the land Of Deacon
Osborne. Mr. Bruce ran Il pottery in
witch We're nanny jugs. napuics and
"arthcl'n ware of various kinds. Thns"
things were sold al over the adjoining
country
"W-hnn the first Lockwood mill wa
erected. there Wa& Il large yard inst be
low the Ticnnic bridge. in Winsinw. and
part of the bricks for the first and SOC
Dad mill were made there. This plant
VAS Tirn l,- u man named carter. In
1916 II, purchased the interest of John
u! L,uvitlc. 4 former partner Of Nj.
Norton. ana enlarged the business III
1&>1 Nc opened Il large yard ~ tollc2"
avenue. near the Fairfield line. In 1897
She Wir&l0w yard was abandoned and
the NVattrvillc ward was enlarged t"
| give cnlrlOvmcnt to ~ men for 90 week;
! in the %e;r. We produce something ilk"
| E. 900, 900 bricks annually in our various
| wards; Part Of this amount is consumed
here the balance shipped away. we
| use 15-horse power 10y electricity. In tn"
| busiest part of our season W" employ
Ia m,n in the brick manufacturing
work. and about 100 men i'll the business
Of building. We take contracts fer
buildings to l:c erected in all parts Of
| the state AT the present time we are
engaged in building the very lar%" aGGi-
ton to the HollingSWorth u whitney
Company's mills across the river q
bank building nj Newport ANA a sand
shed for the Maine Central L. X
! "Natcrvillc seems like home To- me,
ana I have come to feel a d"cp-Sc3te't
affection for the beautiful city. some
times [ have felt that We do not give
enough 81 our attention, as cltl"cnS. u
public affairs. and the manner in WhicE
they ar. conducted. This is above ali an
age Of gain. and Of devotion I" hl3h
business ideals, and the modern buSi-
ness man, if lie would be success "
feels that he must devote All OF ms
time To the chosen branch in winch no
wishes, to make his success sure. TnlS
being the cas-" n" dCVOtcS himself re
Ii.,iouSly to his business. feeling that he
las no tim" for public affairs IhuS
here comes to hc iirmlysrontcd IN me
affairs Of the average New hh%lah"
city Il class which thinks first OF 1'E
own ends ana interests. and the cltN
comes second in its estimation. IN
business man Of til" present day Sh"ul'
never he too busy that h" cannot CIV
some thought to the public affairs. II
lbs with the men Of inilutnc" III tht
community to remedy all evils IN gov
rrlnrnt. and when the business mar
comes to the conclusion that II" WI
spar" a little Of his tim" to n'"k ~
hubble matters. many of tn" "NllS al
ni,ting our American commemorative
ana cities will disappear altogether