Nelsonville in Athens County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Nelsonville

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 19, 2025

1. Nelsonville Marker

Inscription. Where world famous Star Brick was manufactured in the 1800s.

Erected by Ohio Historical Society / Ohio Department of Highways / Ohio Bicentennial Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.

Location. 39° 27.847′ N, 82° 15.04′ W. Marker is in Nelsonville, Ohio, in Athens County. It is at the intersection of West Washington Street and John Lloyd Evans Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling east on West Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 944 W Washington St, Nelsonville OH 45764, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Hocking Hills.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee

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(Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Camp Site of Lord Dunmore (approx. half a mile away); Hocking Canal Site (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Nelsonville (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lockbourne Air Force Base Survival School (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans' Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Nelsonville-York - Remember 9/11/01 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Hocking Valley Railway (approx. one mile away); Fort Street Cemetery (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nelsonville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Camp Site of Lord Dunmore (was approx. half a mile away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Nelsonville, Ohio. Wikipedia page.

The blocks and bricks manufactured in Nelsonville were very popular. One of them in particular was known as the king of all pavers, the Nelsonville Block. The salt glazed surface not only made it watertight, it also gave it a distinct and attractive
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 19, 2025

2. Nelsonville Marker
finish. In 1904, the Nelsonville Block won first prize at the World's Fair in St. Louis.

(Submitted on May 29, 2026, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana.)

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 19, 2025

3. Nelsonville Marker

Nelsonville Block bricks in Valparaiso, IN image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, September 26, 2025

4. Nelsonville Block bricks in Valparaiso, IN

- In 1908 Main Street in Valparaiso was paved using several brick types including the “World Famous” Nelsonville Block bricks that won 1st prize at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
- In 1935 and again in 2025 some of the original bricks were preserved during construction projects and installed on Valparaiso Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 29, 2026, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.