Natural Resources

Clay that appears in several places in the area around Steamboat, was of good brick-making quality. Since it was easily accessible a brick works was started about one-half mile northeast of the present corporation limits of Steamboat Rock. With careful investigation one may still be able to locate remains of what was at one time a thriving brick works.

The mounds on which the kilns were located are all but gone, but some fragments of some of the very good quality bricks that were made can still be picked up from the grounds where at one time the processing of clay took place.

The bricks found at this site appeared to have been hand made with a mold and strike. Some of them have a clear imprint of the maker’s fingers. They vary in hardness from soft salmon brick to hard dark red vitrified brick. Some glazed headers are found indicating that he kilns were probably made up with fire wood stacked between the rows or “walls” of green brick to be fired.

The farm on which the industry was located was known as the McCorkey farm. Today it is part of the property once owned by Henry L. Eckhoff.

As an even more lasting commendation one may still find several houses in Steamboat and the surrounding area that were built from the brick made by the local brick works.