Time for a Refresh

There has been a bit of a break between my posts here on the MN Bricks website. I have been very busy researching and putting together a book about the Chaska, Minnesota, brickyards. In regard to that topic, I have set up a new website at www.chaskabrick.com. In putting together the Chaska brick book, I have realized that a book just about the brickyards would probably be pretty boring for most people, so I have been expanding the book to include more about that historical time period in Minnesota. Being a history buff, it doesn’t take much to get me to venture off in different directions. However, I am trying to narrow my focus and get the book finished.

So what about the wider topic range that includes other Minnesota brickyards? I have never stopped looking for additional material; it just has not been added to the web site. I have encountered a couple of issues with that, the first being there were SO many brickyards. In researching my Chaska brick book, I have come across single sentences in newspapers that mentioned a new brickyard starting up in some small town. However, they are only a single sentence, and they mention nothing else, like who was starting it or where it was. Then, there is never another mention of it again. I was hoping to be somewhat thorough on this topic, but I am finding out that is not possible. So I just have to be happy to uncover what I can.

The second issue was my webmaster grew up. My webmaster was a relative, who worked cheap. That person has since grown up, and gone on to bigger and better things. So I did not have anyone to help me post new material. I also wanted to take a step back, to make sure I wasn’t giving away all my material for anyone else to use, especially if I wanted to do something with it too. I have put in countless hours researching this topic, and had been putting up all the material I found. Since then, I have found that numerous people or researchers have used my material, and not given me any credit. I am not looking for fame or fortune, but wouldn’t it bug you when someone else gets paid for using just your material? So, I am trying to find a blend in that realm that I am comfortable with as well.

Where do I go from here? First and foremost, I am looking to start regular posts again. I enjoy the feedback I get from people, who also provide me with additional pictures and stories. I hope that continues. Secondly, I am going to add a quarterly newsletter about the material I am finding.  Sign up to have this newsletter automatically sent to you.  I’m looking forward to you checking back with this web site often!