Veedersburg in Fountain County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Veedersburg
Home of Brick Yard
Photographed By Mark C. Clark, October 11, 2010
1. Veedersburg Marker
(Click on any of these photos to see the details.)
Inscription.
Veedersburg. Home of Brick Yard.
Welcome To Veedersburg Home of Brick Yard that manufactured the bricks that built the Indianapolis 500 Mile Track in 1909 .
Welcome To Veedersburg
Home of Brick Yard that
manufactured the bricks
that built the
Indianapolis 500 Mile Track
in 1909
Erected 2010 by Veedersburg Redevelopment Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 40° 6.835′ N, 87° 16.289′ W. Marker is in Veedersburg, Indiana, in Fountain County. Marker is at the intersection of West 2nd Street and South Maple Street, on the left when traveling west on West 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Veedersburg IN 47987, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The town of Veedersburg is inter-woven with its paver bricks and railroads. This is the South brick yard, another one existed on the West edge of Veedersburg. Bricks from Veedersburg built many places including the Indianapolis 500 mile track, the Chicago "Loop", and many other streets throughout the U.S.. Some names stamped on the bricks are: Wabash Clay, Poston, Culver, and Veedersburg(h).
9. Carl G. Fisher 1909
One of the owners in 1909 of the Indianapolis 500 Race Track -and- one of the buyers of the Bricks at Veedersburg. (See the following contract.)
Veedersburg Historical
10. Page One - - Contract :: Bricks for the Indy 500 Track
(Click photo to see details) In 1909 the Veedersburg, Indiana brick yard was known as the "Wabash Clay Company" producing the "Culver" paving bricks (which was then called "blocks"). Carl Fisher, President of the "Indianapolis Motor Speedway" visited the Veedersburg brick yard plant on September 12, 1909. (Continued in next photo)
Veedersburg Historical
11. Page Two - - Contract :: Bricks for the Indy 500 Track
(Click photo to see details.) This proposal was made dated September 14, 1909 by the "Wabash Clay Company" to supply exclusively all the "Speedway Bricks" based on special terms (advertising). The proposal was accepted and dated September 16, 1909 by Carl Fisher, President and James Allison Sec/Treas. - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Inc.. The rest is history.....
Veedersburg Historical
12. The "West Brick Yard"
This facility made a number of items. [Located next to the current location of Second Street (a.k.a. U.S. 136).] With the railroad location next to the West Brick Yard while in operation, product distribution was not a problem.
A number of clay type products including bricks were made by this "West Brick Yard". It was owned and operated under a number of names. The "West Brick Yard" (as it is locally called) sat on the West Edge of Veedersburg along Second Street (a.k.a.: U.S. 136).
This 'Oct. 1924' map is photographed in a large "Sanborn Map Company" book which shows that the maps were last 'up-dated' in 'January 1950'. As per this map photo, there were ten (10) drying kilns existing.
Bricks and "Paver Bricks ("Blocks" as they were called then)" were the prime items made at this "South Brick Yard". It too was owned and operated under a number of names. The "South Brick Yard" (as it is locally called) sat on the South Edge of Veedersburg along Mill Street as it leads into the rural area. This 'Oct. 1924' map is photographed in a large "Sanborn Map Company" book showing that the maps were last 'up-dated' in 'January 1950'. As per this map there were twenty nine (29) drying kilns existing.
Photographed By Douglas J. Fleming
15. Veedersburg Brickyard
This is a picture of the old West brickyard in Veedersburg, Indiana.
Photographed By Al Wolf, May 27, 2012
16. Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest"
In 1909, 1,727 people lived in the brickyard town of Veedersburg, Indiana. Two shale pits, one north and one south of town, supplied enough clay to operate two large brick yards owned by Culver. The south brickyard’s prime item made was the “paver”. An Oct. 1924 map photograph identifies 29 drying kilns. The west brickyard produced a number of clay products including ornamental bricks dried in 10 kilns.
In addition to the 500 Mile Track Veedersburg bricks built many places including the Chicago “Loop” and many other streets throughout the United States.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
17. 1909 First I.M.S. Races - Motorcycles - Note Gravel & Tar Track Surface ! !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
18. Gravel & Tar Track needed a Steam Roller ! !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
19. Carl Fisher & Others - - tour Track - Improvements are Needed ! !
Photographed By Al Wolf, May 27, 2012
20. Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest"
Bricks Arrived & Construction Began
Phenomenal speed was displayed in Carrying out the job, the record for a nine hour shift being 140,000 bricks! One enthusiastic worker was found to be averaging over 11 tons during his nine hour shift. Efforts such as this resulted in the entire job being completed in only 63 days.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
21. Brick Work - - Under Way ! !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
22. In 63 Days - - Bricks on the Track !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
23. Trying out the Track. It Held well !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
24. 1911 - - First 500 Mile Race.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
25. "Winner" - - Ray Harroun in #32 - the "Marmon Wasp"
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
26. # 32 Marmon Wasp - - Winning Car 1911 Indy 500 Race
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
27. Culver "Block" - Veedersburg Brick
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
28. And the Fans came ! !
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
29. Indianapolis 500 Track - I. M. S. Main Gate
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 4,125 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on May 29, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 29, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on October 11, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 12. submitted on October 12, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 13, 14. submitted on December 17, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 15. submitted on December 5, 2010, by Douglas J. Fleming of Monticello, Indiana. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. submitted on May 29, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.