In May, 1872, Mr. Norcross, uncle of William A. Norcross, of Detroit, started a brick-yard near where the Detroit House stands. Those pond holes near there are where he dug his clay. He made good brick earlier in the same season near Mud Lake, where another yard was started, Giles Peak furnishing the supplies for carrying on the work. In 1873 W. Norcross burned a kiln in the yard. His uncle started and also made brick east of the Pelican River on the Rand place. (A Pioneer History of Becker County Minnesota, Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1907, Thomas J. Martin, Page 468)
Detroit Brick. – Narcross (Norcross) Bros., at their yard near the depot, have a small kiln of brick ready to burn. They are confident of their ability to make a fine article of brick. The greatest difficulty thus far experienced has been that the west winds dry the brick so quick, and on one side, as to crack many of them. This first kiln is in the nature of an experiment. They have clay, sand and soft water right at hand and close to the railroad track. (The Detroit Record, Saturday, June 22, 1872, Page 5)
July 7th, 1872. Norcross brothers have just finished burning their first kiln of brick and finished them as samples. Their bricks are of excellent quality for either outside work or a cellar wall. (W. A. Norcross had a hand in making these bricks). (A Pioneer History of Becker County Minnesota, Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1907, Thomas J. Martin, Page 336)
The Chicago Brick Machinery Co., 225 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill., among the varied lines which it handles included the "Norcross" patent brick lifter which it is claimed saves more than one-half the labor-cost of handling brick. The breakage in handling is reduced to a minimum and it is claimed that the work is done much better, the brick being left in an orderly pile and handling facilitated. Prices can be obtained upon application to the company. When you write mention "Brick". (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, May 1902, Volume XVI, Number 5, Page 245)