CALIFORNIA BRICKS

Hull

History

William Whipple Hull, a New York native, arrived in San Carlos in 1858 and purchased land on Hull Drive. He established his brickyard on what was then called Cypress St. (now San Carlos Ave.), between Elm and Walnut streets. A field kiln and all of the brickmaking equipment were erected. Clay was taken from a pit on his property.

Hull made red common bricks, which were used in many of the brick buildings in the Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City area. His bricks were shipped to San Francisco for construction of the Palace Hotel, Post Office, Ft. Mason, and San Quentin Prison. By 1885, Hull was making pressed brick.

Hull brick advertisement from the San Mateo Times-Gazette, June 29, 1872.

Diller Store, 726 Main St., Redwood City, made of Hull bricks.

Hull Brick

Common brick was red, with small red to brown clasts visible on the surface. Gritty, rough surface texture, some display small holes. Straight edges and rounded corners. Lip around the top edge. Transverse striations on the sides. Some display flashings and overburns. Hand-molded, soft-mud, sand-struck brick. Length 8 1/4 - 8 1/2, width 3 7/8 - 4, height 2 1/4 - 2 3/8.

Source

Garvey, Linda W. San Carlos Stories, An Oral History of the City of Good Living. San Carlos, CA, 2000.

Moore and DePue. Illustrated History of San Mateo County, California. 1878.

Gazette-Times, Redwood City, 1872-1885.

CALIFORNIA BRICKS

Hull

History

Hull Brick

Source

Comments or questions are welcomed. Please send email to Dan Mosier at danmosier@earthlink.net.

Comments or questions are welcomed.
Please send email to Dan Mosier at danmosier@earthlink.net.