All information on this page is courtesy of Dwight Grabitske, Arlington Historical Society
A man was here Tuesday looking for a suitable clay with a view to starting a brick yard. We understand he found some and intends to come back again to make arrangements for the opening of a yard so as to commence making brick next season. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 8, 1891)
M. G. Foley, of Redwood Falls, the man who is going to open a brick yard here, was here Tuesday and Wednesday prospecting for clay. He has decided to open a yard here and the only thing to agree upon now is the land and the price to be paid for same. Mr. Foley intends to put a $5,000 plant, which will be able to furnish enough brick for the entire line. A brick yard is badly needed here and will prove a vast benefit to the town. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 22, 1891)
M. G. Foley, the brick manufacturer, was here again this week and made a bargain with James Conboy for 80 acres of land at the princely sum of $2900. This settles the matter and a brick yard for Arlington is now a certainty. Mr. Foley will move to our city and personally oversee the work here, leaving the yard in Redwood in charge of someone else. The land purchased here is a clay bank and will furnish material for excellent brick, providing a pulverizer is used to reduce the limestone and this will be done. It will also make fine processed brick, says Mr. Foley, but they will be lighter color than the regulation dark red. Score 1 for Arlington! (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 29, 1891)
M. Foley began work on his brick yard Monday with three teams and five men. They are grading a place for the yard, and the work is progressing nicely notwithstanding that the frost is not yet all out of the ground and hinders them somewhat. Mr. Foley is a hustler and will make a success of brick manufacturing in Arlington if any one can. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, April 21, 1892)
OUR NEW BRICK YARD. Work on the brick yard, which is being established here by M. G. Foley of Redwood Falls, is progressing nicely, though not very fast this week on account of the rain. We paid a visit to the yard Sunday and found that considerable grading had already been done for so short a time. The yard is located east of the end of Main street, about half a mile from town and is surrounded on two sides by the High Island creek, from which source Mr. Foley will get water for the present, having already built a dam for that purpose. The soil out of which brick are intended to be made is a yellow clay and there seems to be an abundance of it in the immediate vicinity of the yard. Mr. Foley, who is an experienced brickmaker, assures us that it will make good brick, providing it is run through a crusher so as to dissolve the limestone, and this he intends to do. He has purchased a complete outfit, which included a 35-horsepower engine, from one of the Chaska yards that went under last fall, and together with the crusher will make an excellent plant. When in running order the yard will have a capacity of turning out from twenty to thirty thousand brick a day and employ about 35 men. As it is somewhat of an experiment, however, the yard will not be run to its fullest extent at the start. A kiln of from 150,000 to 200,000 will be made and these are intended to be ready for use by harvest time. Mr. Foley has a big demand for his brick. His entire supply at Redwood Falls has been disposed of and he had to import a carload to fill the temporary demand. His yard at that place has already started up for the season. If everything goes all right here he can ship all the brick he makes and in that case the M. & St. L. will put in a sidetrack direct to the yard. Arlington is fortunate in having secured such a valuable industry and that without one cent of bonus. Mr. Foley is an intelligent and respectable young man and will make an excellent citizen and a valuable acquisition to our society. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, April 28, 1892)
The boiler for the brick yard arrived Monday and the other material is arriving every day. About 30,000 feet of lumber is included in the outfit. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, April 28, 1892)
Arlington is coming to the front! A brick yard, a new barber shop and another meat market already thus far and the season has hardly begun. It’s no boom, only a good, steady growth. Geo. Dapper has opened a boarding house at his home in Streissguth’s addition and has about ten or fifteen boarders who are employed in the brickyard. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, May 5, 1892
Considerable headway has been made with the brickyard despite the rainy weather, which is delaying the work terribly. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, May 19, 1892)
The brick yard was finally placed in working order Saturday and turned out a few bricks for trial. Everything seemed to work smoothly and satisfactorily and this week the yard is in full blast. If the brick turn out as well as anticipated, Arlington will have a great thing in its brickyard. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 9, 1892)
We paid a visit to the brickyard Friday and for the first time saw the new yard in operation. Everything seems to work smoothly and the way brick were turned out was a caution. The members of the crew appear to be all hard workers and if they keep up their present gait all summer they can make enough brick to supply the whole surrounding country and have plenty to spare. The yard is in charge of a brother of M. G. Foley, who runs the engine and generally oversees the work. Some miscreants have been causing a good deal of deal of damage at the brick yard of late. One night last week some one turned open the tank and let the water run over the yard. The other evening some men and dogs spoiled a lot of fresh brick by walking through them, and other like misdemeanors have been perpetrated at different times. Such work should not be tolerated in any community and if the parties are found out they should be arrested. The proprietors don’t object to parties visiting the yard, but they should keep their hands off things. All dogs seen in the yard hereafter will be shot and a warning to that effect is published in another column. A good thing for our town is that there are no idle men lying around who are willing to work. The brickyard has taken up all the extra men we had besides employing a number from outside. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 30, 1892)
Louis Bauer and family of La Crosse, Wis., have taken up their residence in our city. Mr. Bauer is employed in the brick yard. Brick making in Arlington is a success. The first kiln burned at the new yard is finished and the brick are even better then expected. They stood the fire first-rate and came out in fine condition. The color is excellent, being an even, bright, light-red, and for strength and weight the bricks are unsurpassed. A test showed that they weighed 2½ ounces more than the Chaska brick, which are acknowledged to be the best and heaviest in the state. Foley Bros., the proprietors, are well pleased with the outcome, and they have reasons to be, for although they have gone to a great expense, there is a little fortune in sight for them. There is no yard to speak of on the entire line between Minneapolis and Watertown except Mr. Foley’s yard at Redwood Falls, and consequently he has a larger demand for his brick than he can supply. The supply of clay here is practically unlimited and the quality is better, if anything, than that used in the first kiln, so that there is no fear whatever of the material giving out. We are glad the venture has proved a success as it will be a good thing for Arlington, and Mr. Foley is to be congratulated. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, July 21, 1892)
Foley Bros., our brick manufacturers have built a residence and barn near their brick yard. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, November 3, 1892)
M. G. Foley, our brick manufacturer, has moved his family from Redwood Falls to this place and will reside here permanently. The ENTERPRISE extends to them a hearty welcome. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, December 1, 1892)
Foley Bros. are going to establish a saw mill in connection with their brick yard this winter, which will be another good industry for Arlington. They are already hauling logs from their timber, but will not be ready to commence cutting until spring. Henry, the junior member of the firm, is an experienced saw mill man, having owned and operated a mill in Ohio for the past fifteen years. It is hoped their venture will prove a success. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, January 5, 1893)
Foley Bros. shipped a carload of brick to Henkelman & Kroehl, Norwood, this week. This is the first car of brick shipped from here, but more will follow when the season opens. Chas. Bubolz, of Winthrop, was here Tuesday and examined our brick with a view to purchasing. He was well pleased with them and left an order. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, February 23, 1893)
M. G. Foley has received a letter from the World’s Fair Commission asking him to make an exhibit of specimens of clay and brick at the World’s Fair. He said that he would do so, as he had some fine sample brick in the present kiln. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, March 16, 1893)
We paid a visit to Foley Bros.’ saw mill Saturday and found them busy sawing. They are only temporarily arranged for sawing, but will be in better shape next winter. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, May 4, 1893)
Foley Bros. commenced making brick Saturday evening and are now at it in full blast. They put them in racks, instead of laying them on the ground, this year and expect to save a lot of brick by so doing. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 1, 1893)
Foley Bros. commenced burning their first kiln of brick this week. Their old brick have all been sold. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 22, 1893)
Brick-making in Arlington is an assured success. The kiln burned by Foley Bros. last week turned out well and they are highly pleased with the result. Without doubt the brick from the new kiln are the finest ever seen in Arlington. They are a fine color, heavy, with a good “ring” to them and contain very little, if any, lime stone. For common brick they cannot be excelled anywhere. Mr. Foley informed us that the deeper they go the better the clay gets and there is no prospects of its giving out. We are glad the proprietors have met with success, as they have gone to a big expense, and it would be a sad blow to them if the yard had turned out otherwise. But with good brick and an increasing demand, the prospects for their future looks bright, and we congratulate them, as well as the city, on having such a valuable industry. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, July 13, 1893)
The brick yard burned a monster kiln of brick the past week. It contains between six and seven hundred thousand. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, August 17, 1893)
Foley Bros. are building a large barn on their premises. It is being built in the side of the bluff formed by the creek and will be of brick and frame. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, August 24, 1893)
Mr. G. Foley has opened up Main street through his land on the east end of it and that thoroughfare is now several blocks longer than before. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, September 21, 1893)
M. G. Foley has commenced his new residence. It is being erected on the knoll above the brickyard and will be a commodious brick structure. He expects to finish it this fall. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 5, 1893)
M. G. Foley’s new house begins to loom up in the distance. It is being built of brick and when completed will be the largest as well as finest brick residence in these parts. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 26, 1893)
Foley Bros. have erected a large brick engine house at their brickyard. This with their large brick barn and commodious brick residence makes that part of town loom up in great shape. The buildings are all made out of their own brick and are substantial and handsome structures. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, November 23, 1893)
F. A. Fisher, one of our prominent farmers, living about four miles west of here, is hauling brick from Foley’s brick yard for a large residence that he will erect in the spring. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, February 22, 1894)
Foley Bros. received a new saw and belt for their saw mill this week and are now better prepared than ever to turn logs into lumber. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, March 8, 1894)
Work has been commenced on the cellar of Foleys store building on Main street. It will be 50 x 80, but the building itself will not be built until after harvest. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 7, 1894)
A NARROW ESCAPE – Theodore Dettborn, a young man employed as teamster at Foley’s brick yard, had a narrow escape from death Tuesday evening. The pit men went to work in the clay pit after supper, as is their custom, and Theo. went down to help them. He went under the embankment and commenced to pick, but was warned by the regular workers to be careful, as the bank was almost ready to fall. Not heeding them he kept on picking away and all at once the bank gave way and buried him beneath a couple of feet of earth. He was immediately dug out and after being unconscious for half an hour was brought to, apparently none the worse for his terrible experience. He was badly stunned and bruised, but that was all and next day was able to be about again as usual. No blame can be attached to anyone but the young man himself. As his carelessness nearly cost him his life, it is safe to say he will be more careful in the future. Mike Miller, who was also in the pit at the time, just escaped being hit by the falling clay. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, June 14, 1894)
M. G. Foley has recently added a porch to his large brick residence, greatly improving the appearance thereof. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, July 19, 1894)
M. G. Foley is hauling brick for his new store and will no doubt be commenced soon. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, July 26, 1894)
Aug. Jaenicke, Wm. Schmugge, Otto and Ernst Schmidt and Fred Spannaus have gone to Winthrop, where they have a contract for building a large brick house in the country. Foley furnished the brick. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, August 16, 1894)
F. A. Fisher’s new brick house is completed. It was built of Arlington brick by Jim Simning, which insures its being first-class. Mr. Fisher now has one of the finest houses in the county. Work was commenced on the foundation of Foley’s store building this week. Jim Simning has charge of the work. Jaenicke and Schmugge have returned from Winthrop where they erected a large brick house for a farmer. It is of Arlington brick. When the carpenters get through with the interior they will go back and plaster it. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, September 6, 1894)
Work was commenced with renewed vigor on Foley’s new store building Monday. Four masons are now engaged and the walls are going up at a good rate. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 18, 1894)
The walls of Foley’s new building are beginning to boom up in great shape. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, October 25, 1894)
Brown & Huckenpoehler will occupy the entire lower floor of Foley’s new block when completed. One store will be used for dry goods and clothing and the other for groceries, etc. They are connected by two large arches, one in the front and one in the rear, and will make an elegant department store. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, November 1, 1894)
Foley’s new brick block is looming skyward. The front and upper ceiling are being put in this week. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, November 15, 1894)
Work on Foley’s now block is being pushed as rapidly as the weather will permit. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, November 22, 1894)
The outside mason work on the new Foley block has been completed and the roof put on. The floor is being laid this week and other carpenter work done on the interior. It will be ready for occupancy by Jan. 1st. Wm. Schuett and Aug. Muchow, of Transit, have each given our brick yard an order for 50000 brick with which they will build themselves residences next summer. F. A. Fisher moved into his new residence Friday and Saturday evening his neighbors and a number of people from Gaylord indulged in a royal housewarming, which was well received and enjoyed by all. Cold weather prevented a number from here from going. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, December 6, 1894)
Our brick yard has sold a bill of brick to Nick Schramm, of Green Isle, who is going to erect a brick veneer store building there in the near future. Tally one for Green Isle! (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, January 17, 1895)
The Redwood Reveille of last week says, “Mr. and Mrs. M. Foley, of Arlington, were visitors here during the week. While here Mr. Foley disposed of three acres of his farm north of the cemetery to the city to be used as a dump ground for garbage. He also leased his farm to Mort McKay. The brick trade at Arlington he reports flourishing, and that orders for brick come in faster than he can fill them. Farmers of that vicinity use brick to a great extent in the erection of residences.” (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, February 7, 1895)
Judging from the orders filed with M. G. Foley for brick, there will be unusual activity in building next season in Arlington and vicinity. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, February 21, 1895)
Farmers are hauling brick to their homes every day in considerable quantities from Foley’s brick yard, an evidence that a good deal of substantial building is going on around us this season. (Sibley County Enterprise, Thursday, March 28, 1895)
Foley’s brick yard was called upon Friday to supply quite a demand for brick at Winthrop, which it promptly did, with thanks. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 11, 1895)
Foley’s Brick Yard. Next Monday morning this industrial adjunct of Arlington will resume manufacturing operations in full force and continue its work until cold weather next fall. A force of 22 men will start the proceedings and this strength will be augmented whenever circumstances demand it. Mr. Foley is better prepared than ever this spring for the speedy and perfect manufacture of an excellent grade of brick. He has orders ahead that will keep him busy for sometime to fill and more are coming in every day. The field for his market comprises the entire length of the line of railroad to Watertown, and is branching off to inland points from the road in either direction. It has been demonstrated beyond a doubt that these brick are composed of excellent material – that they are especially adapted to the climate of Minnesota, well made and marketed at reasonable prices. The facts constitute the elements of their splendid success and brisk demand. They can be used in every capacity that admits of brick construction to the full satisfaction of the purchaser. Mr. Foley will soon demonstrate their utility for sidewalks by putting down a walk built of them in front of his block. His yard will receive an enormous patronage this season, and he will do his best to fill all demands to the satisfaction of his patrons. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 11, 1895)
The Obernoltes have just completed a tubular well for M. G. Foley that eclipses anything of the kind in this section. The well is 133 feet in depth, and by a practical test, made by steam power last Friday, it is supplied with a volume of water equal to 434 gallons per hour. Owing to the particular substance of the sand in the lower depths of the well, there was some difficulty experienced in completing it, but the contractors were equal to the emergency, and their efforts were crowned with flattering success. The water from the well is pumped into a tank some fourteen feet high and from thence supplied to the brick yard and the steam plant. Mr. Foley no longer fears of a dearth of water and consequently is in a particular happy frame of mind. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 25, 1895)
Foley’s brick yard is a hive of industry these days. He is rushing things to supply the orders already on hand. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, May 2, 1895)
Foley’s first kiln of brick for the season will be turned out by the middle of next week. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, May 9, 1895)
The brick yard is running again at full blast, and Mr. Foley, the proprietor, says he will keep it going until cold weather stops work. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, August 22, 1895)
M. G. Foley keeps several teams busy hauling brick to surrounding towns. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, September 26, 1895)
M. G. Foley started a kiln of 400,000 brick the first of the week. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, October 17, 1895)
A great many farmers from the western part of the county have been hauling brick from Foley’s yard this week. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, October 31, 1895)
Daugs & Wiest, brick manufacturers of Blakeley, have made an assignment to Dennis A. Kelley of said village. Their assets are considered to be in the neighborhood of $5,000, with liabilities amounting to probably from $10,000 to $12,000. Their largest creditors live at Belle Plaine. The firm has been operating two brick yards, one in Belle Plaine and another at Blakeley. Inability to dispose of their brick is regarded as the cause of their failure. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, August 6, 1896)
A scrapping match occurred at the brickyard Sunday and Monday morning. Lawrence Ball had Alfred Forsborg arrested for assault and battery. He was taken before Justice Burfield and fined $11.00. To get even Forsborg then turns around and has Ball arrested for the same offense, and he was taken before Justice Derby to be placed under bonds to keep the peace. Upon his paying the costs amounting to $6.00 he was released on his own recognizance. Peace once more prevails at the brickyard colony. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 7, 1898)
M. G. Foley went to Blakeley Friday on business. M. G. Foley has a contract to deliver 112,000 brick at Glencoe for a large building to be erected there this summer. The brick yard crew had another fight in their den Saturday night in which knives and clubs were freely used. We understand the Swede was badly used up and if it had not been for interference would have been “done for,” which seems to have been the intention of the gang. The Swede left during the night and has not been heard from since. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, May 12, 1898)
M. G. Foley received a car load of lime Tuesday. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, September 22, 1898)
M. G. Foley was a visitor at Morristown, Redwood Falls and several other places during the week. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, December 1, 1898)
FOR SALE – Five Brick Houses, in town, brand new, two with furnaces. Call or write it, : G FOLEY, Arlington, Minn. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, December 22, 1898)
Mr. and Mrs. M. G, Foley arrived home Friday from their eastern trip. We are glad to say that Mrs. Foley who has been so ill during the latter part of her stay in the east, though yet unable to walk, is much better than before she started home. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 26, 1900)
We neglected to mention last week that M. G. Foley’s brick yard and residence had been sold to Joseph Wild of Lafayette. Mr. Wild will live in the house he has purchased and will personally superintend the brick making. He is a thorough business man and will no doubt a valuable accession to the community. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, March 20, 1902)
The house owned and occupied by M. G. Foley was on Monday sold to Fred Tetzlaff. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 3, 1902)
M. G. Foley returned Monday noon from Bemidji where he had conveyed his household and other goods. He says there was two inches of snow north of Duluth Sunday. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 10, 1902)
ANNOUNCEMENT. Having acquired the brickyard of Mr. M. G. Foley, I humbly ask the patronage of all the parties desiring to erect building in the future and invite them to see me in regard to material and prices. As brick is cheaper building material now, it will pay you to see me before you buy elsewhere. Yours, Joseph Wild. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 3, 1902, Thursday 10 April 1902)
M. G. Foley and family left Monday for Bemidji where they will reside in the future, Mr. Foley having disposed of the bulk of his property here. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, April 17, 1902)
FOR SALE — One complete threshing outfit run 20 days, cheap. One 20-horse engine, 36x60 separator, self feeder, Russel wind stacker, steel tank, strawcart, everything complete for $2000. Joseph Wild, the Arlington brickman. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, July 3, 1902)
ACCIDENT AT BRICK-YARD. Joseph Wild, the Brickmaker, sustained Loss of about Three Hundred dollars in his business. On Tuesday of this week one of the kilns at the brickyard, containing thirty thousand brick, collapsed, caused by the breaking of iron braces through the frame work, entirely ruining the contents of the kiln. The rods for the support of the framework were too light and also defective, and broke from the strain caused by the steam created in the kiln when fire was started for burning. Mr. Wild’s loss will amount to about $300. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, May 21, 1903)
The German Lutheran church at Glencoe has left an order with the brickman, Jos. Wild, for 2000,000 brick to be used to the erection of a church building to be constructed next spring. Last Thursday a deal was made between Jos. Wild and Wm. Wolff whereby the latter becomes the owner of the former’s residence and property in Foley’s addition. Consideration $900. Mr. Wild has already begun the erection of another dwelling place which is being put up on a lot on the brick yard grounds right west of the brick yard proper. The cellar has been dug and the foundation started and will be ready for occupancy in the course of a few weeks. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, September 24, 1903)
Mike Foley, a former Arlington man, now residing at Bemidji, tarried here for a few hours last Saturday and called on a few of his old acquaintances, among them Aug. Melzer. Old timers will remember Mr. Foley as the owner of the brick yard which was one of this city’s main industries some thirty years ago. East Arlington was known at that time as Foley’s Addition and all of the brick dwellings in that part of town were built by Mr. Foley with the product of his own yard. (Arlington Enterprise, Thursday, September 3, 1931)