Documenation for the Nonextant Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Company

Site Inventory Form State Inventory No. New Supplemental
State Historical Society of Iowa Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.)
(November 2005) Relationship: Contributing Noncontributing
Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) Listed De-listed NHL DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance (R&C) Number
Non-Extant (enter year)

1. Name of Property

historic name Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Industry( District)

other names/site number mutliple sites, multiple companies / corresponds to Iowa Site File No. 13CE8

2. Location

street & number Locations are not associated with a street address
city or town Mason City Iowa vicinity, county
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
96–97 20
(If Urban) Subdivision Block(s) Lot(s)
3. State/Federal Agency Certification [Skip this Section]
4. National Park Service Certification [Skip this Section]
5. Classification
Category of Property (Check only one box) Number of Resources within Property
building(s) If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
district Enter number of: Contributing Noncontributing
site buildings buildings
structure 9 sites sites
object structures structures
objects objects
Total Total
Name of related project report or multiple property study (Enter “N/A” if the property is not part of a multiple property examination).
Title Historical Architectural Data Base Number

6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)

10A05 Potery 01 Domestic

10B02 quarry 10G Storage

13H06 Water

7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)

01 No Style foundation 10 Concrete

99 Mixed constrcution methods walls (visible material) 03 Brick

roof 05F Steel

other
Narrative Description ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark “x” representing your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria)
Yes No More Research Recommended A Property is associated with significant events.
Yes No More Research Recommended B Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
Yes No More Research Recommended C Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.

Yes No More Research Recommended D Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.

County Error: Reference source not found Address Error:
Reference source not foundSite NumberError: Reference source not found
City Error: Reference source not found District Number Error:
Reference source not found

Criteria Considerations
A Owned by a religious institution or used E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
for religious purposes. F A commemorative property.
B Removed from its original location. G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
C A birthplace or grave. 50 years.
D A cemetery

Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Significant Dates
Construction date
1884–1914 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates, including renovation
1914, 1950, 1979

Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect

Builder

Narrative Statement of Significance ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
UTM References (OPTIONAL)
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
1 2
3 4

See continuation sheet for additional UTM references or comments
11. Form Prepared By
name/title Tim Weitzel, HPS
organization IEDA date 9/29/11
street & number 200 E Grand/ PO Box 686 telephone 515/559.4401
city or town Des Moines/Iowa City state IA zip code 50309/52244
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (Submit the following items with the completed form)
FOR ALL PROPERTIES
1. Map: showing the property’s location in a town/city or township.
2. Site plan: showing position of buildings and structures on the site in relation to public road(s).
3. Photographs: representative black and white photos. If the photos are taken as part of a survey for which the Society is to be
curator of the negatives or color slides, a photo/catalog sheet needs to be included with the negatives/slides and the following
needs to be provided below on this particular inventory site:
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
See continuation sheet or attached photo & slide catalog sheet for list of photo roll or slide entries.
Photos/illustrations without negatives are also in this site inventory file.
FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AS WELL
1. Farmstead & District: (List of structures and buildings, known or estimated year built, and contributing or noncontributing status)
2. Barn:
a. A sketch of the frame/truss configuration in the form of drawing a typical middle bent of the barn.
b. A photograph of the loft showing the frame configuration along one side.
c. A sketch floor plan of the interior space arrangements along with the barn’s exterior dimensions in feet.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line
Concur with above survey opinion on National Register eligibility: Yes No More Research Recommended
This is a locally designated property or part of a locally designated district.

Comments:

Evaluated by (name/title): Date:

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number Error:
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Error:
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Error: Reference source not found Error: Reference source not
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Name of Property County
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Narrative Description
An archaeological site in the Iowa Site File (13CE8) defines the approximate area of an extremely large former
pottery works and quarry district (discontinuous). The archaeological site and discontinuous district was recorded
as being associated with the Mason City Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company. The district once encompassed
10 separate facilities operated by 8 companies that no longer exist in any meaningful way.

Aerial photography documents that substantial portions of the site have been destroyed by the subdivision along S
Garfield Ave. Other areas have been converted to tractor trailer storage, other storage, or redeveloped. Based on
the aerial map for 2010, most if not all of the quarries have been converted to water features. The kilns have been
razed at all of the sites and the few remaining buildings at one or two plants have been modified by conversion to
storage and tractor trailer storage lots. Further exploration with third-party map servers indicates possibly one
complex remains and that does not retain its original form but has been heavily modified. Based on the high
degree of land surface alteration, few, if any, intact archaeological deposits associated with the Mason City Clay
Brick and Tile industry would be forseeable. Those few that might remain are not likely to contribute important
knowledge to the history of the Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Industry. Although field testing could be
performed the current understanding of the site as it originally existed, its land use history and how it currently
appears does not indicate that such a research strategy would be productive or would be likely to contribute
further to the understanding of this site.

Brick and tile works have been described in trade journals, descriptions in Iowa Geological Survey annual reports,
and county histories, as well as extensive profession investigation in cultural resource literature (c.f. Deiss 1992,
Gurcke 1987, Hamilton 1990, Hirst 2000, Kelly and Kelly 1977, Finney, et al. 1994, Rogers 1993, Schoen and
Bleed 1993, Terrell 2000, Walters 1982, 1979). No brick and tile works have been recommended to proceed
beyond Phase I survey that were found in the literature. That said, at least one other location, not part of the
archaeological site designation of 13CE8 and therefore outside the determination recommended on this site form,
the latest added to the Mason City Clay Brick and Tile industry could be the subject of further research. The
original Nelson Brick Yard in Lime Creek Township also could be researched further, but it may be found that
this area had been utilized by one or more cement production companies.

Statement of Significance
Archaeological Site 13CE8, Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Industrial District does not appear to meet
National Register Criteria as it does not demonstrate architectural merit, important historical associations, or
significant characteristics of design or construction and has not nor is likely to yield information important in
the prehistory or history of Mason City, the State of Iowa or the United States of America. The
archaeological site, a discontinuous district encompassing a set of industrial brick and tile manufacturing
plants operated by 8 companies in operation from 1892–1979 and retains a low level of integrity as a result
removal and modification of the significant aspects of the district’s integrity. Removal of key aspects of the
industrial architecture—buildings and structures, alteration to the few remaining buildings, and extensive
redevelopment across its area that that together have resulted in a substantially diminished sense of design,
materials, workmanship, setting and feeling. Therefore, it is determined that the portion of the site that

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overlaps the SW ¼ Sec. 8, T96N–R20W is not eligible for the National Register due to a lack of integrity.
Additional research also indicates that that remainder of the site is also likely not eligible for the National
Register. As a result of these reasons the area designated 13CE8 is not eligible for National Register Historic
as an archaeological site or district due to a lack of integrity.

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Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Industry
From 1871 until 1979, a major industry in Mason City grew, then flourished, becoming at one among the largest
manufacturers in finished clay products in the nation (Loomis 2011). Until the energy crisis on the 1970s, the
demand for Mason City clay products was strong enough to survive the coal shortage of 1903 and labor strike of
1909 (Minnesota Bricks 2011) as well as labor shortages caused by the world wars (c.f. Brick and Clay Record
1917).

Despite numerous challenges, the combination of labor, transportation, raw material and an active and engaged
management lead to great successes. By 1913, a manager of o local brickworks wrote to a trade journal to protest
the proclamations made in other areas of the Midwest and to indicate how much more impressive the Mason City
operations were:

…a trifle over thirty hollow block chimneys in Mason City, ranging from a 115 to 150
feet high. All but four of these have been put up by a local mason whose name is Joseph
Maddy. Overburden Stockpile -Myron W. Stephenson, Gen. Supt. Mason City Brick and
Tile Works. (Brick and Clay Record 1913)

The success can be attributed to a combination of local available and abundant raw material and a superior
transportation network, especially rail freight. Much of the success of the Mason City Brick and Tile industry was
achieved under the leadership of O.T. Denison, who was a proprietor in three of the many of the brick yards,
including the largest, the Mason City Brick and Tile Works. Under his direction, the company came to own most
of the brick works in town, the Farmer’s Cooperative Brick and Tile Company, North Iowa Brick and Tile Works
each being an exception. Denison was given the place of primary eminence in the biographical volume of the
1910 History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa (Wheeler 1910).

Environmental Context
In Iowa, like much of the Upper Midwest, Clay is an abundant mineral resource, occurring in loess deposited
windblown and colluvial sediments, river valleys as alluvial sediments and in sedimentary clay shale rock
formations such as those present in the subglacial till in the Mason City area (Anderson 1998, Anderson and
Bunker 1998, Prior 1991). Clay and clay shales are used in brick, tile, and pottery manufacture but also as
components of cement manufacture and specialty applications (Anderson and Bunker 1998, Anderson 1998, Iowa
Engineer 1910). In Mason City, brick and tile and cement were and are the main uses of locally mined clay and
clay shale.

Naturally occurring industrial grade clay shales of Lime Creek Formation of the Devonian system and lacustrien
lake deposits are present at Mason City, along with Sioux City, Ottumwa, Clinton, and Van Meter, Dallas County
(Anderson 1998, Iowa Engineer 1910). In the 1920s there were more than 100 brick and tile works in the state
(Brick and Clay Record).

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Several photos in the Samuel Calvin collection at the University of Iowa Libraries show images of the early brick
and tile works facility. The images document production facilities, products made, the name of the company and
the clay mine operations. Samuel Calvin was educated in classical studies and natural sciences. A self-trained
geologist, Calvin eventually earned a position on the faculty and taught at the State University of Iowa, now the
University of Iowa, in Iowa City (Iowa Digital Library 2011). He was interested in the applied (Continued p. 8)

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(Continued from p. 3) sciences of Geology. Calvin, like many of the persons involved in the Mason City clay
industry understood the importance of near surface geology in determining where ideal clay deposits would be
found (Wheeler 1910).

The type of raw material has much to do with the final product that is derived from the material. For instance, raw
clay derived from loess or alluvial sediments most often forms an earthenware used in soft brick and drain tile
while clay shales are useful in high-fire, hard materials such as face brick, fire brick (refractory brick), brick
pavers and has the name of flint clay, fire clay, stoneware and so on. More to the point, clays that have
accumulated due to mechanical transport tend to be higher in oxides, especially iron, as well as mixed with
impurities. These clays therefore have a much lower refractive nature, meld at a lower temperature, but remain
porous and perform poorly under high kiln temperatures. Conversely, clays that form in one place due to the
chemical or mechanical leaching of soluble materials and leaving the clay deposits as residual accumulations tend
to be low in oxides and in localized areas are free of impurities, and therefore are less plastic and more refractive.
These clays tend to be nearly pure derivatives of feldspar and perform well at high temperatures, become fully
fused (vitreous) and approach glass in final characteristics when fully fired. There are exceptions and it is based
more on parent material and the presence of the impurities than anything else but in general Primary weathered
sedimentary materials and weathered igneous form the most pure clays—kaolin (Searle 1912, Rhodes 1973). Ball
clay is secondary clay that is extraordinarily free of iron and sand and therefore is an excellent plastic additive for
Kaolin, which is too stiff for most applications. Using a variety of clay types and other material additives, stone
grit, previously fired clay grog, sand, and so on can also allow clays to be designed for specific purposes. Brick
and tile industrial applications favor iron–rich, natural accumulations of soft clay that has or to which an
appropriate amount of sand can be added without too much trouble (Rhodes 1973).

Timeline
The first brick fired in Mason City by Nelson Gaylord in 1861 (American Clay Magazine, Bucyrus, Ohio,
December 1910, Volume 4, Number 4). It appears Gaylord employed temporary clamp kilns on site. Nels M.
Nelson and Henry Brickson opened the first industrial scale brick yard west of the river in the NW ¼ of Section
34, Lime Creek Township in 1871 and in 1877 Nelson became the sole proprietor (Loomis 2001, Union
Publishing1883). By 1908 the Northwest States Portland Cement Company was in operation and they would
eventually obtain the same land parcel. By then Nelson had moved to SW Mason City (Visit Mason City 2011,
Wheeler 1910).

The Mason City Brick and Tile Company began operation in 1884 (Wheeler 1910). Along with changes
leadership the physical appearance and configuration of the plant changed considerably over time in response to
new technology and available clay sources (Sanborn Maps, Brick and Clay Record). Both the clay pits and the
facilities expanded before they were closed and, for the most part demolished with the land being redeveloped
after 1979 (Loomis 2011; Iowa Geographic Information Server 2011).

The Mason City Brick and Tile Co. brick works plant was located ½ mile west of the train depot in 1892, the year
it incorporated (Brick and Clay Record 1909, Sanborn Map 1892). The location was northwest of the Elmwood

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Cemetery at a location corresponding to SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 9. The Brick & Tile plant was serviced by
a rail spur from Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, according to the 1912 county atlas. The Patron’s
directory listed the Mason City Brick and Tile Company as “Manufacturers of Wire Cut Brick and Drain Tile,
Vitrified Paving and Sidewalk Brick, Dealers in St. Louis Firebrick and Fire Clay. O.T. Denison President and
Manager (Anderson 1912).

Several companies in the “burnt clay” industry began operations thereafter, including American Brick and Tile in
1900, Mason City Clay works in 1900, Mason City Sewer Pipe Company in 1905, and the Mason City Drain Tile
in 1907. In 1909, an additional plant in operation by the American Brick and Tile Company was located 2 miles
southwest of the post office, in the NW ¼ of Section 17, due south of the west boundary of Elmsly and Adam’s
Subdivision located south west of First St and Inland Ave in the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 16 (Sanborn
1909).

With the single exception of the American Brick and Tile Company, all of the preceding were operated in
cooperation or directly under O.T. Denison, who died in 1910. In 1914 all were acquired outright by the Mason
City Brick and Tile Company and continued under this ownership until closed. The last company closed in 1979,
but several of the operations were shut down before that point. Two other important brick works were never
associated with the Denison plants. The North Iowa Brick and Tile Company was opened in 1906 (Clay and Brick
Record 1909). This plant manufactured drain tile from 4 in. in size up to 24 in., one of the factors of its equipment
being a new design of Madden tile press which makes tile up to 24 in. in diameter. This plant also manufactures
hollow building block and common brick (Clay and Brick Record 1909). The Farmers Cooperative Brick and Tile
Company started operations in Mason City in 1910 (Clay and Brick Record 1910). In 1912, the county atlas
depicts the North Iowa Brick and Tile in operation in the SE ¼ of Section 8. The Farmers Cooperative Brick and
Tile Co. was located in the west half of the same section. By 1930, the Hixson plat map and trade journals
indicate there were 10 plants operated by 8 companies.

Farmers Cooperative was the second operation for the principal investor of that company, the other plant being
located in Sheffield (Wheeler 1910). One of the issues cited in the trade journals was the need to relocate
operations or otherwise improve travel time from new quarries. As quarries were played out, new sources would
be necessary and they were not often nearby the existing plant. The influx of new companies likely curtailed the
raw materials available for the existing companies. Further, as time passed, residential and commercial uses began
to impinge upon the area, circling around it reducing its continued suitability for industrial use. By 1947 many of
the plants were listed as vacant (Sanborn 1947). The 1950s aerial photo shows that the entire facility at the North
Iowa Brick and Tile site had been removed leaving bear ground (Iowa Geographic Information Server 2011). By
1979, the demand for brick had greatly reduced demand for the products and the last of the operations ceased.

Brick and Tile Manufacturing Process
Brick or tile making involves a combination of processes that begin with mining clay or shale that has a high clay
content. The material is hauled, and the processed and prepared. Then the work is made, dried, and fired in a kiln.
The last part of the operation involves the logistics of product storage and shipment.

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Initially, brick was made in clamp kilns on a building site, after the basement cellar had been dug. According to a
presentation by John P. Spewek, an expert in historic plaster and masonry materials and restoration, building pits
are also useful in the construction and plaster trades as well. For this, limestone was needed on site or needed to
be brought to the site. Both brick and plaster require a considerable amount of fuel to make. Later, kilns were built
In the late 19th century, the perception was that lime was an essential flux for clay wares (Union Publishing 1883).
In fact the higher the fired clay body, lime actually acts as a contaminant in that it will chemically convert to an
oxide that becomes unstable, will hydrate, and creates defects in the finished ware, sometimes weeks or month
after the sale of the product (c.f. Rhodes 1971).

The first fuel of choice was wood. Wood has been used to fire clay for centuries. The conversion to coal was
likely for mixed reasons. First, coal does provide larger BTU per volume than wood. But more decisively, wood
had become scarce by the late 19th century. Importantly, the writer’s for the Calvin Project at The University of
Iowa Libraries observed the denuded landscape in late 19th century Iowa, remarking that

Most striking and useful for geologic interpretation is the lack of trees in Calvin's photographs.
The pioneers and industries consumed most of the trees for buildings and fuel. Today, Iowa is
more wooded, and many of the geologic localities that Calvin photographed, as well as the new
roads and railcuts, have since been overgrown or lost to new construction. The photographs are
potentially useful for the study of agricultural changes and land use. They give a glimpse of the
native prairie that existed in Iowa in the late 1800's. (Iowa Digital Library 2011)

And although large scale industrial brick works require coal to fire the kilns and as source of power to run pug
mills, mixers, and extruders (Weitzel 2005, Bleininger and Greaves-Walker 1918, Windsor and Kinfield
Publishing Co 1897–ca.1950), there were a number of issues. Coal kilns needed a new design for one, and a new
method of clay firing needed to be developed. But there were other issues not only in converting to coal but also
expanding its use as a fuel source (Dornback 1910).

In 1866, the Mason City and Fort Dodge railroad line was established. The railroad opened the door for Mason
City to grow quickly and much of the brick in the building built during this time came from the brickyard of
Nelson and Brickson (Loomis 2011, Union Publishing 1883) and then Nelson and Barr (Iowa Engineer 1910).

The Mason City Brick and Tile Co. brick works plant was located inside the corporate boundary, in south part of
the 3rd Ward at the time. It began operations in 1892 (Brick and Clay Record 1909). The location was northwest
of the Elmwood Cemetery at a location corresponding to SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 9. The Chicago
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was shown running east to west near the south section line. The intersecting line
from the southwest was operated by the Mason City and Fort Dodge Railway. Further east a north to south line
was operated by the Iowa Central RR, the Mason City Junction was located near the SW corner. The Brick & Tile
plant was serviced by a rail spur from Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. The Patron’s directory listed the

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Mason City Brick and Tile Company as “Manufacturers of Wire Cut Brick and Drain Tile, Vitrified Paving and
Sidewalk Brick, Dealers in St. Louis Firebrick and Fire Clay. O.T. Denison President and Manager.

Originally, clay was dug by hand and most brick works used human or animal power to move barrows or carts of
clay to the brick works (Lienhard 1997, Terrell 200, Rhodes 1971, Webber 1976–1992, Weitzel 2005). Different
processes were used depending on the type of clay, the amount of impurities or inclusions and the desired final
product. Some clay works will spread out the raw material to dry, sieve, and then crush, re-sieve and rehydrate.
This process allows consistency by using a dry weight measure, in turn facilitating more precise mixtures of clays
(Rhodes 1873, Weitzel 2005). For extrusion products, the clay would be mixed with other additives to facilitate
the process (Propst and Clark 2003). The resulting slurry would then be fed into an extruding machine. This
machine could be fitted with differently size or shaped dies for square building block or round drainage tile (Hirst
2000, Popst and Clark 2003). A different type of process was necessary to make silo tile or sewer brick because
these generally are made in the form of an arc, the diameter of which determines the size of the final structure.
The extrusions were cut in the desired lengths, usually 12 to 14 inches for drain tile, longer for sewer tile (Weitzel
2005). Building blocks were typically sixteen inches (Propst and Clarke 2003). The specialty fittings were of
necessity made by hand (Popst and Clarke 2003). Originally, brick was also made by hand using a specialized set
of tools and molds (Terrell 2000, Lienhard 1997, Weber 1976–1992, Weitzel 2005), eventually, the dry process or
pressed bricks were developed, wherein a ball with a clay body containing a lot less water is placed into mold and
the pressed into the desired shape using force from any of a number of methods. The tiles were placed on drying
racks before being fired in the kilns. Depending on the type of kiln, the bone ware must either be handed onto
ware carts, moved to the kiln and it loaded. After a cooling period the tile was removed from the kilns and either
stockpiled or loaded directly into boxcars (Brick and Clay Record). Later innovations involved rail cars and
tunnel kilns. In this process the formed ware is loaded onto rail cars and the cars slowly move through the kiln,
with each chamber set to the proper temperature to correctly fire the ware form warming, to bisque to near or as
complete a vitrification as the clay body will allow. The brickyard would shut down for a short time each winter
for repairs and improvements (Popst and Clarke 2003). Eventually, several of the Mason City brick works
installed steam powered cable cars made by the Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, PA or the Hathorn Foundry &
Machine Co., Mason City that were elevated to the top of the clay works by a mine tipple (Brick and Clay Record
1909). Once under mutual ownership, the several plants would mine from the same pit (Popst and Clarke 2003).
As distances grew and labor shortages mounted during WWI improvements in efficacy for labor and energy drove
the further mechanization of the plants and mines (Brick and Clay Record). The Mason City Clay Works
Company installed a rail track with mine cars driven by a steam locomotive were used some time before 1915
along with a centralized clay processing facility at the clay pit in NW ¼ of Section 16 (Propst and Clocke 2003,
Sanborn Map 1915). By 1956, trucks hauled the clay to the remaining plants. Consequently, the rails were
removed and the rail equipment was scrapped (Propst and Clocke 2003).

Much of the work at the plants was initially facilitated by steam powered Corliss type work engines with Power
take off for driving belts and equipment. The manufacturers were located at Sioux City and Burlington among
other locations (Popst and Clarke 2003, Brick and Clay Record 1909). Eventually steam and electrical power for
various operations were provided by the power plant on the industry site.

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The introduction of steam powered, later petroleum powered, draglines and the conversion from coal to gas fired
kilns was increased at this time but were not perfected until the 1920s but at the same time other efficiencies
increasingly were introduced, such as hydraulic presses for face brick (Brick and Clay Record 1917, The Clay-
worker 1922). Again changes came about as the Second World War approached. The haul line was electrified in
1940 and two side dump engines were purchased from The Clinton, Davenport & Muscatine Railroad (Ross
2011). The engines were made by the Differential Steel Car Company of Findley, Ohio, a company that
developed innovations in mine cars and locomotives (Ohio Vintage Coal 2009). When the pits were located
farther away from the factories, the rail line was not extended. Instead trucks transported it from the pits to the
railhead (Popst and Clocke 2003).

Components of a Typical Clay Brick or Tile Facility
Clay Pit
Processing Plant/Brick Works
Machine Room/Black Smith Shop/Clay Room
Crushing and pulverizing mills, Mixers, Pug Mills, Extrusion Mills, Brick Press and molds, Conveyors,
Ware Cars/tracks, Ware Shelving
Power Plant (to generate steam and electricity)
Drying Sheds
Kiln Array
Tunnel system to duct heat from furnace fire rooms to kilns and drying shed
Offices
Storage/Warehouse
Drying Sheds
Additional Facilites and Equipement
Cable Car/Railroad/Haul Road, Pit mine conveyors/tipple
Steam powered Corliss type engines to haul equipment and for the use of the Power Take Off.

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Products: Pavement brick (street and sidewalk types), drain tile, structural tile (wall block, window caps, window
sills, farm silos), common brick (structural brick), hollow brick (face brick)

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Company Name or Other Significant Board or Management Location
Dates
Lime Creek Brickyard 1871 (1) Nels M Nelson and Henry. First pit and
Brickson to 1877, Nelson sole works were in
proprietor after 1877 (1) Lime Creek Twp,
NW-34-97-20
1882 (8, 5) N.M. Nelson and Barr Later moved to
Southwest Mason
City in 1882.
4,000 brick from
this yard in 1882.

Mason City Brick and Tile Company 1884 (2) O.T. Denison, President and SW-SE-9-96-20
(founded) L.W. Dension Secretary-
Later acquired the American Brick Treasurer
and Tile Company and consolidated Incorporated
the Denison companies under this 1892 (2)
name, 7 facilities

1910 (4) C.E. Smith General Manger

Added Clay handling plant in clay 1913 (4) M.W. Stephenson General
pit and tramways before 1914 Superintendent
1914 (8) Keeler consolidation

American Brick and Tile Company 1900 (6) Ira Irving Nichol Organizer SW-SW-9-96-20
Albert F. Shots General
Built on site of the original Nelson Manger
and Barr brick works of 1882 (5)
Second Plant (Plant No. 1), due
north across railroad track. 1909 (7)

1914 (7, 8) acquired by MCB&T

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Company Name or Other Significant Board or Management Location
Dates
Mason City Clay Works 1900 (2) F. A. Stephenson is president; NW-NE-16-96-
O. T. Denison, vice-president; 20
Drain tile, common brick, and L. W. Denison, secretary, and
hollow block tile. F. E. Keeler, treasurer.
Uses cable cars built by Vulcan Iron Stephenson also had work or
Works, Wilkes-Barre, PA was working with plants in
Des Moines and Illinois
This company used mechanical
explosives to loosen shales that they
worked to a depth of 45 feet below 1914 (7, 8) Acquired by MCB&T
surface. (2)

Mason City Sewer Pipe Company 1905 (2) O.T. Dension, president L.W. SE-SW-9-96-20
Denison, secretary, and F. E.
Sewer tile and brick. Keeler, treasurer.

Completely lit by electrical lights 1914 (7, 8) Acquired by MCB&T
when built

North Iowa Brick and Tile Company 1906 (2) A.W. Dawson, president. L.A. SW-SE-8-96-
Page, vice-president, J.W.
Specialized in large field tile in a Adams Treasurer, and R.
wide range of sizes. Closed in the Valentine, secretary
1950s
Mason City Drain Tile Company 1907 (2) O. T. Denison, president; F. A. NE-NW-16-96-
Stephenson, vice-president; F. 20
E. Keeler, secretary, and L. W.
Denison, treasurer.

1914 (7, 8) Acquired by MCB&T

Farmers Cooperative Brick and Tile 1910 (3) James H. Brown SE-SW-8-96-20
Company William M. Colby
(Promotional Agent)
Same proprietor in Sheffield
National Clay Works 3 Miles west of
Court House(7)

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1. Lime Creek Township. Union Publishing 1883 5. The Iowa Engineer 1910
2. Brick and Clay Record 1909 6. Wheeler 1910
3. Brick and Clay Record 1910 7. Sanborn Maps
4. Brick and Clay Record 1913 8. Loomis 2011

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, R.R. and B. J. Bunker Fossil Shells, Glacial Swells, Piggy Smells, and Drainage Wells: The Geology
of the Mason City, Iowa, Area, GSI-65, Iowa Geological Society, Iowa City. 1998.
Anderson Publishing. Atlas of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Anderson Publishing Company, Chicago. 1912.
Anderson, Wayne l. Iowa’s Geologic Past: Three Billion Years of Earth History. University of Iowa Press, Iowa
City. 1998.
Becker, Sharon R. Cero Gordo County, IaGenweb Project. Accessed September 22, 2011.
Bettis, E. Arthur III. Soil Morphological Properties and Weathering Zone Characteristics as Age Indicators in
Holocene Alluvium in the Upper Midwest. Chapter 4 in Holliday, Vance T. Soils in Archaeology:
Landscape Evolution and Human Occupation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 1992.
Bleininger, A.V and A.F. Greaves-Walker. Fuel Economy in Burning Clays. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 1918.
California Brick. Historical Brictures, California Brick Society Website,
http://californiabricksociety.com/HistoricalPictures.html, Accessed September 23, 2011.
Cerro Gordo County Assessor website http://www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us/WebAccess/showimage PDF.asp?
docid=10000000042000026809, Accessed September 22, 2011.
Deiss, Ron. A Brief History and Chronology of Ceramic Drainage and Masonry Tile Produced in the United
States. Jounrnal of the International Brick Collectors Association 10(1):6–18.
Dornback, W.E. The Iowa Engineer, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, October 1910, Volume XI, Number 1
Finney, Fred A., Cynthia L. Peterson, Rolfe D. Mandel, and Hugh R. Davidson. Archaeological,
Geomorphological, and Historical Survey of the South Raccoon River Greenbelt, Dallas County, Iowa:
Summary and Future Research Guide. Contract Completion Report 432. Office of the State
Archaeologist, The University of Iowa, Iowa City. 1994.
Gurcke, Karl. Bricks and Brickmaking: A Handbook for Historical Archaeology. The University of Idaho Press,
Moscow, Idaho.
Hamilton, Kelly. Archaeological and Historical Survey of the Zerrenner Brickyard, 47-Ou-101, Outagamaie
County, Wisconsin. Transportation Archaeological in Wisconsin, the 1988 Field Season. Wisconsin
Department of Transportation., Archaeological Report 16. Madison. 1990.
Hirst, K. Kris. Archaeological Investigation at the Brown Brothers Tile Factory, Washington County, Iowa.
Journal of the Iowa Archaeological Society. Vol. 47. 2000.
Brick and Tile Bibliography. Brick and Tile References: Technical Treatises for the Archaeologist.
Tennessee Archaeology Net Bibliography Page. Frank.mtsu.edu/~kesmith/TNARCHNET/Pubs/
Bricks.html. Accessed September 23, 2001.

Continuation Sheet
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Hixson. Plat Book of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. W.W. Hixson & Company, Rockford, IL. 1930. Copy available
at Iowa Digital Library http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/u?/hixson,287. Accessed September 23, 2011.
Iowa Digital Library, Calvin Image Database, Digital Library Services, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa
City. http://www.uiowa.edu/~calvin/calvin_search.html Accessed September 23, 2011.
The Iowa Engineer, Volume XI, Number 1. Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, 1910.
Iowa Geographic Map Server, Iowa State University Geographic Information Systems Support & Research
Facility, Ames, Accessed September 22, 2010.
Iowa Geological and Water Survey web site, Bedrock and Quaternary Geologic and Maps of Iowa, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources web page, Accessed September 22, 2011.
Kelley, Roger E. and Marsha C.S. Kelley. Brick Bats for Archaeologists: Value of Pressed Brick Brands.
Lienhard, John L. Engines of Our Ingenuity. No. 1249, Bricks. www.uh.edu/engines/epi1249.htm. Accessed
September 23. 2011.
Loomis. History of Mason City Timeline. Lee P. Loomis Archives, Mason City Public Library. Accessed
September 23, 2011.
Minnesota Bricks, 10 – Out of State Brick, Iowa Brick, Mason City Brick, http://www.mnbricks.com/mason-city-
brick, MNBricks.com, 2011. Accessed September 23, 2011.
National Brick, The Clay-worker, Volumes 77-78, National Brick Manufacturers' Association of the United States
of America, Indianapolis. 1922.
North West Publishing. Plat book of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. North West Publishing Company, s.l. [probably
Philadelphia], 1895. Copy available at Iowa Digital Library http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/u?/atlases,644.
Accessed September 23, 2011
Ohio Vintage Coal, Differential Steel Car Co., http://industrialrail.5u.com/photo_44.html, Ohio Vintage Coal
Company, Pataskala, Ohio, 2009. Accessed September 23, 2011.
Online Iowa Site File database and LANDMASS predicative and interpretive models, Office of the State
Archaeologist, The University of Iowa, September 22, 2011.
Prior, Jean C., Landforms of Iowa, The University of Iowa Press, 1991.
Propst, Clark and Chuck Klocke, “27) Mason City Brick and Tile Works”, Chuck Klocke contributor.
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company: Mason City Industry by Clark Propst on Minneapolis & St.
Louis, Iowa Central, Chicago & Northwestern Website, Lyndon “Cash” Groth on RailServe, Internet
Railroad Database. http://www.cashgroth.com/index.html. 2003, Accessed September 23, 2011.
Rhodes, Daniel, Clay and Glazes for the Potter. Chilton Book Company, Radnor, Pennsylvania. 1973.
Rogers, Leah D. A Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Des Moines Recreational River and Geenbelt,
Botanical Center Riverfront Park, Riverfront Garden Project, Des Moines, Iowa. Contract No. ACW25-

Continuation Sheet
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92-M-1022, for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. Mount Vernon, IA. 1993.
Ross, Don. Mason City Brick & Tile Company, Don’s Rail Photos,
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr145.htm,Don Ross Group. 2011. Accessed September 23, 2011.
Sanborn Map. Fire Insurance Maps for Mason City Iowa, 1892–1947, The Sanborn Map Company, Sanborn
Library, LLC. 2011.
Schoen, Christopher, and Peter Bleed. The Archaeology of the Lincoln Pottery Works. Central Plains
Archaeology 3(1). 1993.
Searle, Alfred B. The Natural History of Clay. Cambridge University Press, G.P. Putnum,’s Sons New York,
1912.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil
Survey. Available online at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed September 22, 2011.
Terrell, Michelle M. Nineteenth Century Soft-Mud Brick Kilns: Two Examples From Lost Creek Valley,
Mahaska County, Iowa. Journal of the Iowa Archaeological Society. Vol. 47. 2000.
Union Publishing, History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa, Union Publishing Company, Springfield,
Illinois. 1883.
Visit Mason City, Iowa. About Mason City: Mason City History, Visit Mason City, Iowa website.
http://www.visitmasoncityiowa.com/html/history.htm, Accessed September 23, 2011.
Wall, Joseph Frazier. The WPA Guide to 1930's Iowa Pp. 285-88. Federal Writers Project. University of Iowa
Press. Iowa City. 1986.
Walters, William D. Jr. Nineteenth Century Midwestern Brick. Pioneer America 14(3):125–136. 1982.
Abandoned Nineteenth Century brick and Tile Works in Central Illinois: An Introduction from Local
Sources. Industrial Archaeology Review 4(1). 1979.
Weber, Irving. Historical Stories about Iowa City (Irving Weber’s Iowa City). Lions Club (Iowa City, Iowa).
1976–1992.
Weitzel, Tim, An Armchair Walking Tour of the Longfellow Neighborhood, Library Cable Chanel 4, August 1,
2005, Iowa City Public library, Iowa City. 2005.
History Notes: The Oakes Brickworks and “1142” in The Long View [Newsletter], Longfellow
Neighborhood Association, November 2005, Iowa City, Iowa. 2005.
The Longfellow Neighborhood Historic Markers, in Past, Present, Future, Spring 2005, Friends of
Historic Preservation, Iowa City, Iowa. 2005.
The Oakes Brickworks, Sign #2B, Longfellow Neighborhood Art Project. Historic Markers and Public
Art in the Longfellow Neighborhood, Iowa City. http://www.icgov.org/default/?id=1684 and
http://www.icgov.org/site/CMSv2/file/publicArt/LNAbrochure.pdf, Accessed September 23, 2011, City

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of Iowa City, Iowa City, Iowa. Updated 2008.
Wheeler, J.H., History of Cerro Gordo County Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. 1910.
Wikipedia online encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org). Accessed; September 22, 2010.
Windsor and Kinfield Publishing Co. Brick and Clay Record, Windsor and Kinfield Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1897–ca. 1950.
Volume XX, Number 2, Page 93, February 1904
Volume XIX, Number 2, Pages 4, 41, August 1903
Volume XXX, Number 1, Pages 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, January 1909
Volume XXIX, Number 6, Page 532, December 1908
Volume XXIX, Number 2, Page 345, August 1908
Volume XXXIII, Number 3, Page 135, 121, September 1910
Volume LI, Number 1, Page 692–693, July, 1950

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MCB&T
NIB&T
AB&T No1 MCSTC

FCB&T
MCB&T Clay Handling
MCCW
APE

AB&T No 2

MCDTC

USGS Map for APE. Iowa Geographic Map Server. Key cultural features shown at arrows.

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MCB&T
NIB&T
AB&T No1 MCSTC
APE

FCB&T
MCB&T Clay Handling
MCCW

AB&T No 2

MCDTC

USDA Aerial Photo (1930s). Iowa Geographic Map Server. Key cultural features shown at arrows

Continuation Sheet
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MCB&T
NIB&T
AB&T No1 MCSTC

FCB&T
MCB&T Clay Handling
MCCW
APE

AB&T No 2

MCDTC

USDA Aerial Photo (1950s). Iowa Geographic Map Server. Key cultural features shown at arrows

Continuation Sheet
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MCB&T
NIB&T
AB&T No1 MCSTC

FCB&T
MCB&T Clay Handling
MCCW
APE

AB&T No 2

Continuation Sheet
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USDA Aerial Photo (1960s). Iowa Geographic Map Server. Former locations of Cultural Features shown at arrows.
Note the disturbed surface of the area coinciding with the APE.

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs AB&T No 2
MCDTC
Continuation Sheet
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USDA
Aerial
Photo
(2010).
Iowa

MCB&T
NIB&T AB&T No1 MCSTC

MCB&T Clay Handling
FCB&T
MCCW
APE

Geographic Map Server. Former locations of Cultural Features shown at arrows.

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View of works of the Mason City Brick and Tile Company, from the southeast
Photographed by: Samuel Calvin. Lantern Slide No. 1481. Photograph No. 98
Calvin Collection, Iowa Digital Library

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Mason City Brick and Tile Company, view from northeast
Photographed by: Samuel Calvin.
Photograph No. 81

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Clay pit of the Mason City Brick and Tile Company
Geologic Age: Devonian, Lime Creek Shales.
Photographed by: Samuel Calvin.
Photograph No. 91

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View of Differential Steel Car purchased, from the Clinton Davenport & Muscatine Railway
Photograph from the Don Ross Collection (Ross 2011)

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Mason City Brick and Tile Company, Mason City, Iowa. Post Card. California Brick Society

American Brick and Tile Company, Mason City, Iowa. Postcard. California Brick Society

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Former Location of Mason City Brick and Tile (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Former Location of American Brick and Tile No. 1 and No. 2
Nelson & Barr Brick Yard (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Continuation Sheet
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Former Location of Mason City Sewer Pipe (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Former Location of Mason City Clay Works and Clay Processing Facility (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Continuation Sheet
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Former Location of Mason City Drain Tile (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Former Location of Mason City Sewer Pipe (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Continuation Sheet
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APE

Former Location of Farmer’s Cooperative Brick and Tile,
North Iowa Brick and Tile (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Continuation Sheet
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Former Location of Nelson and Brickson Brick Yard, not part of 13CE8 (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Possible Former Location of National Clay Works, not part of 13CE8 (Bing Bird’s Eye Maps)

Documenation for the Nonextant Mason City Clay Brick and Tile Company

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