MADE OF BRICKS

The table below lists the buildings and structures made of California bricks. Most history books will proudly speak of their charming brick buildings and when they were built, but they often neglect to tell us the origin and maker of the bricks. For good reason, that information has not been easily available or has been lost or forgotten. In historical archaeological investigations of building sites, bricks may be among the remaining artifacts, yet little or nothing is known about them. Another major concern is the disappearance of older brick buildings where examples of early bricks are no longer available for study. The absence of such information can result in the incomplete knowledge and understanding of the history and archaeology of a region.

This compilation can be used as a guide for historians and archaeologists to help identify the origins of unknown brick structures. Using the information provided on the California Bricks website, it is possible to make comparisons of known bricks with unknown bricks for identification and determination of the brickmaker, regardless of the presence of a maker's mark or not. As this is a work in progress, be forewarned that the information presented here may change with further research. For instance, preliminary information from published sources may not always be correct and should not be replied upon until verification from personal investigation. Also, an investigator must be cautious of structures that have undergone renovation since the date of observation, when the original brick may have been replaced with modern brick, in which case the information in the table would no longer be current.

Here is where you can help! If you have some information about brick structures that you can share, let me know so they can be added to the list. I particularly need the date of when a structure was modified or razed. If you see a brick building being demolished, send me the address and, if possible, the name and type of brick in the building.

In the following list, the buildings are grouped by California cities in the third column and are listed in alphabetical order. Some buildings have multiple types of brick and multiple brickmakers, which are listed in their respective order when known. Where "Street" is blank, further research will be necessary to locate the exact address of the building, which may no longer be standing. Some addresses may be the original address as reported, not the current one. Under source, "Pers. Obs., 2001" indicates that I have personally identified the brick at the site in the year 2001.

This page is dedicated to the brickmakers who helped to build our cities and towns.