Bishop Hill in Henry County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1851 Carpentry Shop

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

1. 1851 Carpentry Shop Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

One of the oldest brick buildings in Bishop Hill, the 1851 Carpentry Shop was originally used as a manufacturing and fabrication center for colony furniture and wagon components. The bottom floor served as the general work area and a set of double doors on the second floor of the east side of the building provided access to the paint shop.

Bishop Hill furniture that has survived the past few centuries was likely created in this building.
—Todd DeDecker, Bishop Hill Heritage Association Administrator

The Carpentry shop used bricks that were made and kiln-fired by the whole community — women & children included — at a brickyard located in the NE corner of town.

Originally, a rich clay body was mined locally to produce these striking bricks. Their range of color and strength was determined by the temperature reached during firing. Bricks around the edge of the kiln generally stayed cooler (orange/softer) than the brick on the interior (brown/harder).

All damaged brick are being replaced with new handmade bricks in order to preserve an important feature; the well-charactered surface textures called "sand creases", which are created

Marker detail: Community Bricks image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Community Bricks

Some bricks include decorations; unique artwork placed there by these local artisans.

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when the brick is formed by hand.

Custom forms were made to produce an exact replica of the original Colony Bricks which are an unusual size (slightly longer than standard).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 41° 12.044′ N, 90° 7.12′ W. Marker is in Bishop Hill, Illinois, in Henry County. Marker is on Bishop Hill Street north of East Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the south side of the subject 1851 Carpentry Shop and present-day U.S. Post Office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 107 Bishop Hill Street, Bishop Hill IL 61419, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bishop Hill Colony Historic District (here, next to this marker); Bishop Hill (approx. 2½ miles away); Henry County Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.1 miles away); Ira R. Palmer (approx. 8.1 miles away); Henry County Civil War Monument (approx. 8.1 miles away); Fraker's Grove (approx. 8.9 miles away); Abraham Lincoln in Kewanee (approx. 10.4 miles away); Presbyterian Cemetery (approx. 10.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop Hill.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Bishop Hill Colony

Also see . . .

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

3. 1851 Carpentry Shop Marker

(1851 Carpentry Shop • southwest corner • in background)

1851 Carpenter Building Rededication. This pre-Civil War structure played an important role in the history of the Bishop Hill Colony, producing furniture and other items for Colony use and for public sale. The Carpenter Building, as well as the Meat Storage Building, are the two oldest remaining Colony brick buildings. Today, the Carpenter Building contains the U.S. Post Office and Garden Thyme gift shop. The Bishop Hill Heritage Association, with the support of many individuals and organizations, have conducted extensive exterior repair work to preserve this unique building for future generations. (Submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

1851 Carpentry Shop (<i>northwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

4. 1851 Carpentry Shop (northwest elevation)

1851 Carpentry Shop (<i>west elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

5. 1851 Carpentry Shop (west elevation)

(marker partially visible at far right)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.