FIRST Factory in town -- Athens TX
N 32° 11.503 W 095° 51.118
15S E 231130 N 3565253
Two machines from a brick-making factory, the first factory in town, are on display in a small park along the SH 19 in Athens
Waymark Code: WMN0EW
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2014
Views: 4
A brick press and a brick mixer, one powered by hand and the other by mule, were the only machines in the first factory built in Athens TX.
Their history is preserved in the state historic markers nearby:
"Machinery From First Factory in Athens
Established 1882 (at site 1.5 mi. NE) by local planter H. M. Morrison, to make building brick. Total original machinery consisted of this press and plunger. Press was hand-operated. A mule-drawn swivel ran the plunger, mixing clay dug at the plant site. C. H. Coleman bought into firm in 1891; after Morrison's death in 1899 he became sole owner. Harbison-Walker Refractories Company bought business in 1940; continued making Coleman brick and enriching economy until closing in 1968. These machines are a permanent loan to city of Athens from Harbison-Walker."
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1882
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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