In the later half of 1879, in Evanston, Ill., a new C&NW station was erected. The description in the local newspaper (Evanston Index, September 27, 1879) said the station was made of selected "Des Plaines brick."
A Google search has been fruitless. Lots of stuff about Des Plaines and brick structures there. Nothing about "Des Plaines brick."
Was this a special type of brick? (The station is long gone and can't be viewed.)

hankmorris@earthlink.net

> the station was made of selected "Des
> Plaines brick."
> A Google search has been fruitless. Lots of
> stuff about Des Plaines and brick structures
> there. Nothing about "Des Plaines
> brick."
> Was this a special type of brick? (The
> station is long gone and can't be viewed.)

Hey Hank,
I've never heard of 'Des Plaines Brick' either, but here's a link to a dealer in historical bricks who possibly might know something.
Dan


Gavin's Historical Bricks
ge44tonner@cox.net

> In the later half of 1879, in Evanston,
> Ill., a new C&NW station was erected.
> The description in the local newspaper
> (Evanston Index, September 27, 1879) said
> the station was made of selected "Des
> Plaines brick."
> A Google search has been fruitless. Lots of
> stuff about Des Plaines and brick structures
> there. Nothing about "Des Plaines
> brick."

If there was a good source of clay a lot of localties had a brick works. The would include very small towns to say nothing of larger cities.
The brickworks got big or died out. They were like breweries, years ago every town had one.


2rivers@upstel.net

> A Google search has been fruitless. Lots of
> stuff about Des Plaines and brick structures
> there. Nothing about "Des Plaines
> brick."
> Was this a special type of brick? (The
> station is long gone and can't be viewed.)

My wife says it is yellow. She says the schools she attended growing up in Oregon, Illinois were faced with yellow Des Plains brick. She thinks the color comes from limestone quarried there.


SJHussar@aol.com

> My wife says it is yellow...

Milwaukee's local yellowish brick ("Cream City" brick), was also popular in the Chicago area and Midwest. Light-colored brick was less-common, therefore more desirable.

tr2manz@frontiernet.net