The Lower Depot Neighborhood / The Frederick Brick Works

The Lower Depot Neighborhood, also, The Frederick Brick Works. . (North Facing Side): The Lower Depot Neighborhood , The railroad transformed 19th century America, facilitating long-distance travel and the efficient transfer of raw materials to factories and agricultural and manufactured goods to markets. For Frederick this transformation began in 1831 when the nation's first railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, opened a branch line to the city. The first B&O depot stood east of South Carroll Street., (Upper Right Sidebar): In 1872, the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad was laid down the center of East Street, joining with the B&O tracks east of Water Street. Improved rail connections spurred industrial development in the area. By the close of the 19th century, the local industrial district included two tanners, a flour mill, a coal yard, a step-ladder factory, a canning company, a spoke factory, a bridge works, a brush factory, knitting mills, two ice factories, and a brickworks, (Lower Right Sidebar): The area continued as the industrial heart of the city well into the 20th century. Many neighborhood residents worked in nearby factories and coal yards. The 1910 federal census indicated that 236 inhabitants lived in the area. Of these, thirteen were employed by the railroad, seven by the Frederick Brick Works, and ten by the Union Manufacturing Company, a hosiery mill. As technology and the economy evolved, many of the factories closed, and the neighborhood entered a period of decline. With the opening of the MARC branch line, the Lower Depot Neighborhood found new life in a new century., Plaque prepared for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) as part of the MARC Frederick Service Project, Passenger train service resumed December 10, 2001, (South Facing Side): The Frederick Brick Works , The Frederick Brick Works was established in 1891 on a 63-acre farm tract south of town. The property was rich in clay deposits and located in close proximity to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. These factors contributed to the company's success as manufacturer of a once-prominent brand of bricks, Frederick Reds. Frederick Reds were used in the construction of numerous buildings throughout the region. The largest project, requiring five million bricks, was the Government Printing Office (1900) in Washington, D.C. Locally, Frederick Reds were used in construction of the first Frederick High School, various buildings at Hood College, and many pre-World War II houses. , (Center Sidebar): Frederick Reds were manufactured using the soft-mud process. Clay was stored in the sheds (A) at the south end of the property. When needed, raw clay was moved to the tempering pit (B) where it was combined with water and other materials to increase its plasticity and burn quality. The refined clay was then moved to the pug mill (C) where it was cut and mixed with water. Dry pans were used to crush and grind any slate, shale, or small pebbles in the mixture. Two brick machines (D) then molded the refined clay into bricks., Following molding, the bricks were moved to the dryers (E). One dryer used hot air, while a second used steam. Both contained tunnel dryers, one heated by waste heat, the other by steam conducted in pipes along the bottom and sides of the dryer. After being thoroughly dried, the bricks were fired. Firing took place in twelve, downdraft kilns (F). The kilns were shaped like beehives, thus allowing for an even distribution of heat. They required constant supervision to maintain the consistent temperatures needed to produce the best quality brick. Following firing, the bricks were stored in sheds (G) where they awaited shipment to construction sites via truck or rail., (Lower Right Sidebar): The fortunes of the Frederick Brick Works fluctuated in response to economic conditions. Brick production was temporarily suspended at the height of the depression in 1934, fully restored by the early 1940s, and suspended again during World War II. In 1946 brick production was discontinued permanently due to a combination of maintenance, labor, and marketing difficulties following the war. The company turned to the sale of ready-made building materials and supplies, a business that continues to the present., Plaque prepared for the State Highway Administration (SHA) as part of the East Street Extended Project.