If you have ever traveled State Route 278 from Nelsonville to Lake Hope State Park you have likely noticed some interesting brick ruins on the outskirts of Nelsonville.
They’re what’s left of the city’s once booming brick manufacturing industry.
With its large clay deposits, this area was ideal for making the untold number of bricks needed to build new structures and streets in southern Ohio. In fact, there once were five companies that did just that in Nelsonville.
One of them even won first prize at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904.
The traditional beehive kiln seen in these pictures is part of the Nelsonville Brick Plant – now a park.
There are a lot of bricks inside and around the area.
If you look down along Ohio’s older streets and sidewalks, you might see a Nelsonville brick – marked with their name or a star design. If you’re lucky, you might find one in an antique store or junk shop too.
I recall being fascinated with bricks as a kid – and not just for something to throw through a window.🤣
Hahaha. I wouldn’t think of you as a brick thrower. But yeah- they’re pretty cool. I especially like towns with brick streets and sidewalks.