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Veedersburg in Fountain County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Veedersburg

Home of Brick Yard

 
 
Veedersburg Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark C. Clark, October 11, 2010
1. Veedersburg Marker
(Click on any of these photos to see the details.)
Inscription.
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 & CommerceRoads & VehiclesSports. 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.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veedersburg " Scout Cabin " (approx. 0.2 miles away); Curfew Bell (approx. ¼ mile away); Booe - Inlow - d'Arlier Cultural Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veedersburg Wabash Clay Company (approx. half a mile away); Lee and Mike Ramsey (approx. half a mile away); Veedersburg Memorial Park (approx. half a mile away); Nineteenth Century Functional Commercial Building (approx. half a mile away); Veedersburg - VanBuren Township War Memorial (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Veedersburg.
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Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
 
Also see . . .  Video - - "Brickyard to Brickyard" 2012 :: (Courtesy: FCMustangTelevision). (Submitted on May 7, 2012.)
 
Obverse View - - Veedersburg Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Courtesy:: Mark C. Clark, October 11, 2010
2. Obverse View - - Veedersburg Marker
Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest" image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Al Wolf, May 27, 2012
3. Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest"
[ Left Panel ]

FUN FACT

$1.00 in 1909
had the same purchasing power as
$24.41 in 2008

[ Right Panel ]

FUN FACT

1909 Prices:
Stamp - - - - - - - 2 cents
Hershey Bar - - - 2 cents
Coca-Cola - - - - 5 cents
Gal. Of Gas - - - 6 cents
Corn Flakes- - -10 cents
New Car - - - - - $1,280
New House - - - $2,650
"West Brickyard" - - Looking West image. Click for full size.
Courtesy:: Veedersburg Archives
4. "West Brickyard" - - Looking West
The West Brickyard can be seen in this photo on the right (background.) The road is currently U.S. 136 (a.k.a.: Second Street in Veedersburg.)
Track Entrance - Gate # 5 . . . image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
5. Track Entrance - Gate # 5 . . .
Looking East - - Veedersburg Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark C. Clark, October 11, 2010
6. Looking East - - Veedersburg Marker
Looking West - - Veedersburg Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark C. Clark, October 11, 2010
7. Looking West - - Veedersburg Marker
Beside the marker on the left, click the photo to see the horse on the roof of the "Fountain County Livestock" building.
Wabash Clay Co. — Brick Kilns — Veedersburg Paver Bricks image. Click for full size.
circa 1900
8. Wabash Clay Co. — Brick Kilns — Veedersburg Paver Bricks
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).
Carl G. Fisher 1909 image. Click for full size.
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.)
Page One - - Contract :: Bricks for the Indy 500 Track image. Click for full size.
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)
Page Two - - Contract :: Bricks for the Indy 500 Track image. Click for full size.
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.....
The "West Brick Yard" image. Click for full size.
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.
"West Brick Yard" - - 'Veedersburg Clay Products Corp.' image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Al Wolf, December 17, 2010
13. "West Brick Yard" - - 'Veedersburg Clay Products Corp.'
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.
"South Brick Yard" - - "Made the Paver ('Blocks') Bricks" image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Al Wolf, December 17, 2010
14. "South Brick Yard" - - "Made the Paver ('Blocks') Bricks"
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.
Veedersburg Brickyard image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Douglas J. Fleming
15. Veedersburg Brickyard
This is a picture of the old West brickyard in Veedersburg, Indiana.
Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest" image. Click for full size.
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.
1909 First I.M.S. Races - Motorcycles -<br> Note Gravel & Tar Track Surface ! ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
17. 1909 First I.M.S. Races - Motorcycles -
Note Gravel & Tar Track Surface ! !
Gravel & Tar Track needed a Steam Roller ! ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
18. Gravel & Tar Track needed a Steam Roller ! !
Carl Fisher & Others - - tour Track -<br> Improvements are Needed ! ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
19. Carl Fisher & Others - - tour Track -
Improvements are Needed ! !
Veedersburg - "Back Home Again - Contest" image. Click for full size.
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.
Brick Work - - Under Way ! ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
21. Brick Work - - Under Way ! !
In 63 Days - - Bricks on the Track ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
22. In 63 Days - - Bricks on the Track !
Trying out the Track. It Held well ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
23. Trying out the Track. It Held well !
1911 - - First 500 Mile Race. image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
24. 1911 - - First 500 Mile Race.
"Winner" - - Ray Harroun in #32 - the "Marmon Wasp" image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
25. "Winner" - - Ray Harroun in #32 - the "Marmon Wasp"
# 32 Marmon Wasp - - Winning Car 1911 Indy 500 Race image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
26. # 32 Marmon Wasp - - Winning Car 1911 Indy 500 Race
Culver "Block" - Veedersburg Brick image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
27. Culver "Block" - Veedersburg Brick
And the Fans came ! ! image. Click for full size.
Courtesy: I. M. S. Archives
28. And the Fans came ! !
Indianapolis 500 Track - I. M. S. Main Gate image. Click for full size.
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 4,074 times since then and 38 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.

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Mar. 19, 2024