Page 191. The first brick yard in the county was opened for the manufacture of brick in East Red Wing by George Wilkinson in the summer of 1855. He had taken the contract for the erection of the Hamline university (St. Paul). He came and commenced the manufacture of brick for that structure chiefly, but furnished that material to others for a time. Besides the University building there were two brick dwellings erected that same year. The University building was completed and dedicated
Page 192. early in January, 1856. Barnes & Vanhouten opened a brick yard at the west end, and commenced the manufacture of that article, while Mr. Wilkinson’s yard was still supplying brick, but not in sufficient quantities to meet the demand. (Goodhue County, Minnesota, Past and Present, By An Old Settler, Red Wing Printing Company, Red Wing, Minnesota, 1893)