For Sale. – A third interest in the finest brick plant in the West, with the finest line of the latest improved machinery, with an abundance of the best clay in the state for brick; have been tested in every respect and have proved to be the finest in every respect and have proved to be the finest in the West. For further information inquire of J. C. Gobel, Windom, Minn. Samples of the brick can be seen at the Globe Office. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday Morning, August 26, 1894, Volume XVII, Number 238, Page 15)
The Windom Brick and Tile company, with a capital stock of $12,000, has filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday Morning, January 3, 1895, Volume XVIII, Number 3, Page 8)
The Windom (Minn.) Brick and Tile Co. have added some improvements to their plant, which last year had a capacity of one million brick, and this year they expect to turn out twice that number, the demand being good. They say that they expect to dispose of the entire product. (The Clay Worker, T. A. Randall & Co., Indianapolis, March 1896, Volume XXV, Number 3, Page 278)
From Minnesota. By F. M. Gardner. The September number arrived all right, and I took it out to the kilns, where they boys all had a look at their "phizes" (the first time some of them ever saw themselves as others see them), and then they gave a cheer for BRICK. Trade is somewhat dull, but we are shipping some and waiting for better times after election. We cry, Good Lord! Good Devil! for we are not certain into whose hands we will fall. Politics are lively here in the west. Crops are not quite so good as last year, but there is plenty here to eat, if there is not so much money. Going along the Omaha branch to Pipestone last week I counted from the car window thirty-four bunches of wheat stacks, from four to six stacks in a bunch, in one wheat field. This is the place for the farmer or stock raiser. Minnesota is having some fine weather now. An Indian summer. I am well and like the climate here and have not been sick one hour since I came; have only been bothered a little by some rheumatism in arm and shoulder. I have sold one-third of our season’s output, and ship a car load about every two weeks to the buildings in town, consisting of a fine church, bank and a drug store. I think I told you about the adobe houses and barns combined, thatched with hay, that have been standing for twenty years, and are good and substantial yet, also about burning brick with horse manure and wild hay. I send you a photograph of a Prussian peasant named Wolf, who has just finished his kiln. There are two arches, 4-brick bench, set skintling, 35 high, and he got a fair burn. He and his family – frau, two boys and girl – do all the making, laying up and burning. All the farmers here burn hay in large brick ovens, and they keep warm and clean. (Brick, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, November 1896, Volume V, Number 5, Page 155)
Windom, Minn., cannot be an unfamiliar spot to our readers, where F. M. Gardner makes a good brick, and occasionally writes us a good letter. He tells us that business in ’96 was not so good, "owing to our financial election, but is now looking better." Common building brick and white veneering, 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/4, are made here. Prices average $6 per M [1,000]. As to hollow blocks, "the demand is good, but as yet none are manufactured. This is the country that needs them most of all." F. M. Gardner says there is no roofing tile, as none is made, but he could sell all that one plant could manufacture, as the people there were used to tile roofing in the old country. No drain tile is made at Windom. What is used is shipped about 150 miles. He considers that prices have been better there than in the east, though fuel is dearer and the summer is shorter, the climate is drier. (Brick, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, January 1897, Volume VI, Number 1, Page 8)
Windom, Minn. - The Windom Brick & Tile Company has made an assignment. (Brick, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, February 1897, Volume VI, Number 2, Page 79)
F. M. Gardner, formerly of the Windom Brick and Tile Company, will open a brick yard at Bingham Lake, six miles north of Windom. (The Princeton Union, Thursday, February 18, 1897, Volume XXI, Number 9, Page 3)
Windom, Minn. – F. M. Gardner, formerly of the Windom Brick & Tile Company, will open a brickyard at Bingham Lake, 6 miles north. (Brick, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, March 1897, Volume VI, Number 3, Page 199)
William C. Benbow, Windom, Minn., wants to purchase a second-hand Martin steam power brick machine. Anyone having such a machine will please address Mr. Benbow direct, giving full description of machine, number of years in use, daily capacity, etc. (The Clay Worker, T. A. Randall & Co., Indianapolis, February 1898, Volume XXIX, Number 2, Page 166)
About half a mile from Windom station a deposit of gray drift has been explored to a depth of 8 feet over a great many acres, and in parts of the neighborhood is undoubtedly thicker. It is covered with sandy drift to a depth of 1 to 8 feet but is near the surface over many acres. The clay slakes in two minutes and is fairly plastic, requiring 24 per cent of water for molding. Its tensile strength is about 150 pounds to the square inch and its air shrinkage is 6 per cent. An attempt was made to use this clay in the Windom Brick & Tile Factory, and it is said that the buff or yellow brick produced have stood satisfactorily in buildings in the neighborhood. (Clays and Shales of Minnesota, Frank F. Grout with contributions by E. K. Soper, United States Geological Survey, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1919, Page 146)