Atlanta Brick Company Is One of Oldest Manufacturers in City
Harrell, J. W. The Citizens Journal (Atlanta, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 21, 1938, newspaper; Atlanta, Texas. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting Atlanta Public Library.
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“When you build, use brick and build for permanency! When you build, be sure of lasting beauty and permanency by building with brick. And remember – the Atlanta Brick Company can take care of your needs. For over 19 years the Atlanta Brick Company has been furnishing this area with brick and participating in every civic undertaking for the advancement of Atlanta and Cass County.”
The Article
“Atlanta Brick Company Is One of Oldest Manufacturers in City
Possibly Atlanta’s oldest manufacturing concern, located three-fourths of a mile north of town on the railroad is considered one of the most valuable assets of the city of Atlanta. This establishment was founded in 1919, and since that time very much progress has been made in their handling of labor and in improving their product. Today the Atlanta Brick is known
throughout the three states area, and wherever common brick are to be used, whether it be a government post office, public school, or private dwellings, the Atlanta Brick Company is requested to submit samples of their product. Some five million of these brick are moved from the plant each year.
In this plant, the works starts in the pit where a 1937 model T-20 tractor loads two clay dump cars at intervals while a Fordson tractor with locomotive wheel atatchment pulls the cars along the steel track to the dirt storage at the plant. This shale containing about 20 percent mortar is fed into a dry plan where it is ground up into a meal like substance and run through a screen into a mixer. The part that fails to go through the screen returns to the dry pan where it is reground, while the screened dirt passes through shuts into the mold box where from 14 to 20- tons of pressure is applied. The dirt comes out of the press or mold in the form of brick which are fairly hard, but if they are exposed to water in this stage, would melt and turn back to dirt, so they are rolled on wheel carts into the kiln where they are stacked with the greatest care and precaution to preserve a smooth finish when the brick is burned. These kilns contain approximately 500 thousand brick and when they are filled, and the doors sealed up, a fire is started in each of the sixteen “eyes” on each side of the kiln. Wood is burned here for about ten days in order to thoroughly dry the brick and create a draft so there will be no waste or fuel when the higher heat is applied. When this is done, fuel oil blown through tiny burners with steam is used to obtain the high heat which often passes 2,400 degrees F. Fuel oil is burned for three days, then the “eyes” are sealed up and the fires cut off. The kiln is left for 5 to 8 days to cool before it is possible to handle even the brick on top of the kiln. Now the finished product is ready to be loaded out. Most of these brick are moved from the plant by two 1937 Ford Trucks and one 1938 Chevrolet truck. Quite a few however, is shipped by rail, and others are sold at the plant.
The Atlanta Brick company’s contribution to the growth of Atlanta can best be understood when one considers just where this company gets it money, and what becomes of it when it is taken in. About 95 per cent of the total receipts of the Atlanta Brick company is money secured through sale of their product in another town, county or state. This money, of course, is brought to Atlanta, then, unlike most concerns in Atlanta, they do not have to spend this money in some other town or state in order to buy what they sell. They make their products, but in doing this, they must incur expenses to do so. Some $25,000.00 each year is paid to laborers, who spend their money with the merchants in Atlanta. Some $5,000.00 yearly is paid to garages, service stations in Atlanta for gasoline, motor oil and repairs. Some $1,500 is paid to blacksmiths and machine men. Around $3,000 is paid each year to farmers around Atlanta for wood. $1,000 is paid to the merchants of Atlanta for miscellaneous items. This makes a total of $36,000 that is brought to Atlanta and paid to laborers, farmers and business men in and
around town. The officials of the Atlanta Brick Company are glad to welcome the Atlanta Canning company as their neighbor industry, an industry with the same ideal, namely a bigger and better Atlanta.
The officials of the Atlanta Brick Company, Messrs. R.S. and Franklin Allday together with the stockholders and personel invite the general public to visit their plant at any time.”
Grammar and spelling have not been altered from the original article.
As we learn more about the history of Atlanta Brick Company, we will update our readers. This document is provided in tandem with the November 2024 newsletter of Atlanta Grade School Friends.
Additional Images and Information
From The Citizens’ Journal, Sixtieth Anniversary, January 5, 1939 (page 30).
Handwritten letter from 1994 Atlanta Texas Public Library
Atlanta Grade School Friends wishes to thank Kendra Harrell, Director of the Atlanta Public library and Charlotte Evans of the Atlanta Public Library Advisory Board (and genealogy expert) for their help researching information about the Atlanta Brick Company.