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MARTINEZ FLOORED BY BRICKS


REMILLARD BRICK CO./OAKLAND CALIF: Detail Martinez chimmey.


REMILLARD BRICK COMPANY

According to the Builders Exchange of Santa Clara History, Remillard was the West's most prolific brick producers, operating in both Pleasanton and San Rafael. Throughout the Santa Clara Valley were simultaneous deposits of clay and sand that maximized mining with subsequent manufacture of bricks. The Remillard Brick Company Marin plant still has remnants of its kiln which are both a California Landmark (#917) AND on the National Historic Register. An excellent history of the excitement at Remillard Brick Plant--including the prison breakout--is written by the Marin Independent Journal, click HERE for article. Oakland's 552--592 2nd Street Remillard Brick Company buildings are also part of a listing on the National Historic Register. While attending Oakland High, Jack London was tutored in French at the Remillard House by a young Lillian Remillard who later became the Countess Dandini! Countess Lillian Remillard Dandini continued the family brick business until the late 1960's and also built a 92 room Chateau in Hillsborough made of guess what--BRICKS! 92 rooms of bricks, WOW.

The information below and the spirit to find Martinez's old bricks would not have been possible without Dan Mosier--geologist, author, and brick historian. He will be getting the Martinez brick tour Sunday, February 26. For more in depth information about these bricks and others not pictured here, click HERE for Dan's virtual "brick collection" and for brick manufacturers' histories, click HERE. Brief information on each brick pictured below can be found by rolling your mouse over these photographs.



COWEN: 1850-1900 by Joseph Cowen & Co. of Blaydon-on-Tyne, England--brought over as sailing ship ballast. Fire brick, maker unknown. Arch-type fire brick by WS Dickey Clay Mfg. Co. Livermore Plant 1918-1937.
Unknown, but PERHAPS General Refractories bricks in Pennsylvania 1911-1940. FROM PRE-1900 FIREPLACE: PERHAPS McNear's red-buff commons by San Rafael. Carnegie Brick & Potter Co, Carnegie, CA, 1905-1911. 2-1/8 is dimension. Made at Pittsburg, CA at a plant named STOCKTON 1931-1932.
2/1-8 thickness, unknown maker, probably Carnegie. Probably made by Dickey Clay Mfg. From brick driveway of 1904 home. Gladding, McBean & Co. Pittsburg, CA 1932-58. Gladding bought Carnegie in 1915 and continued to use the name. Made by Carnegie Brick & Pottery, Carnegie, CA 1905-11. W,S. Dickey Clay Mfg. Co. at Livermore Plant 1918-37. Fire brick by Ione Fire Brick Co, Ione, CA 1906-44. KORMAC: A refractory fire brick of unknown origin. GASCO: 1931-58 fire Brick, Pittsburg, CA/Gladding, McBean, & Co. Fire brick by WS Dickey Clay Mfg Co., Livermore, CA 1918-37. PACIFIC MACBEAN: Washington State 1930, unusual to have gotten to Martinez. 8 inches. Red Paving brick, Los Angeles Pressed Brick Co., Santa Monica plant, 1906-1925, when the San Francisco Bay area so desperately needed good paving brick for its roads! . Fire brick by WS Dickey Clay Mfg Co., Livermore, CA 1918-37. Red pressed face brick, Richmond Pressed Brick Co, Richmond Point Plant, CA 1907-1965. Fire brick by WS Dickey Clay Mfg Co., Livermore, CA 1918-37. Fire brick, Stockton Fire Brick Co, Stockton, CA 1912-1932.
Richmond red paving brick, Richmond Pressed Brick Co 1915-07/Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Plant 1906-1925. Sidewalk of Fire Brick. Sidwalk of Dickey fire brick from Livermore, CA Plant.
Ignacio Plaza: Modern Chevron pattern bricks. BRICK STACK, SUSANA ST: red common bricks.


Unless indicated, all photographs and contents copyright 2006 by Kristin Henderson

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