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Multiple sources say that the first bricks in Minnesota were made in 1849 in St. Paul, by Daniel F. Brawley. So what about Minneapolis? I have a source that says there was a brickyard in St. Anthony in 1854, and … Continued

I can usually track down some information on most of the old brickyards in Minnesota. Do you know what is the hardest thing to figure out? Where the old brickyards were actually located. If they were only open for a … Continued

Lately, I have spent some time tracking down more information on the first brick manufacturer in Minnesota, Daniel F. Brawley. Many sources from the St. Paul area state that Daniel F. Brawley made the first bricks in the State in … Continued

Recently, I finished a new YouTube video about the Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge. As its name implies, the bridge was built of stone. However, I recently researched the histories of both the Minneapolis and St. Paul Union depots. These two … Continued

If you sit down and think about it, what kinds of old brick buildings are still most common across Minnesota? My first thought is churches, and then maybe courthouses. When I visit a new area of the state, those are … Continued

I am definitely a visual person by nature. When I research history, I like to find photographs that will accompany the story. For that reason, I watch online auctions for old pictures that I know can help tell my stories. … Continued

A number of years ago, I purchased a brochure about making ACO silos through a source on the Internet. The brochure was pretty cool, but I basically stuck it in a folder and put it away in a filing cabinet … Continued

If you are enjoy looking around the ruins of old brickyards, the Lilydale Regional Park is for you! This park contains the ruins of the Twin City Brick Company, which was in business for many years in the Twin Cities … Continued

I sometimes get questions like “where can I buy antique brick?” Or “how can I fix my old brick barn?” Sometimes these questions are easy to answer and sometimes they are hard. First of all, antique brick is not antique … Continued

I know that Iowa is famous for its agriculture.  When I think of Iowa, I think of vast cornfields like those in the famous “Field of Dreams” movie.  Along with its agricultural heritage comes its heritage of barns and silos.  … Continued