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Humboldt Clay Manufacturing Company

History


Around 1909, the Humboldt Clay Manufacturing Company was organized by Harrison M. Mercer, president, and Charles J. Dunten, manager, of Eureka. Mercer was the president of Mercer-Fraser Company, Eureka. Clay was mined on Ryan Slough, east of Eureka on 1 3/4 acres of land. There is no description of the plant. This company manufactured sand-molded common brick until 1913, when the plant closed. In 1910, the bricks were used in the post office and court house on the corner of H and 5th streets, Eureka.

Humboldt Brick


Side and end of the Humboldt brick in the Post Office Building, Eureka.


Partial view of the top face of the Humboldt brick in the Post Office Building, Eureka.


Common brick is red, mostly uniform in color. Surface is sand-struck with minor white feldspar up to 1/4 inch across. Some sides display a light shade of flash, with minor pits and abrasions. Irregular lip up to 1/8 inch thick occur along the top edges. Top face is pitted and has angled strike marks. Interior of the clay body has tiny pits and white feldspar. Edges are nearly sharp, but often chipped, and corners are dull. Sand-molded, soft-mud process. Length 8 1/4, width 4, height 2 3/8.

Source

Boalich, E.S., Castello, W.O., Huguenin, Emile, Logan, C.A., and Tucker, W.B. The Clay Industry In California: California State Mining Bureau Preliminary Report 7, 1920, p. 47.

Dietrich, Waldemar F. The Clay Resources and the Ceramic Industry of California: California State Mining Bureau Bulletin 99, 1928, p. 80.

Eureka City Directories, 1909-1913.

Copyright © 2007 Dan Mosier

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Please send email to Dan Mosier at danmosier@earthlink.net.