Voelker & Groff Brick

Fine Pressed Brick. An Excellent Brick Can Be Made In Winona. Mr. J. Voelker, whose extensive brick yards in Burns Valley are well known, has been experimenting in regard to the manufacture of pressed brick in Winona. Near his brickyards is a large deposit of clay which is too rich for ordinary brick, but which Mr. Voelker has thought for some time would make an excellent pressed brick. Recently he sent a sample of this clay to a leading pressed brick concern in Chicago with a request that they test its value. This week the clay was returned to him in the form of several very handsome specimens of pressed brick. The brick are exceptionally well made, the edges and corners being true and sharply defined. In color they are somewhat vermillion and have a very fine glaze. The Chicago concern writes that the clay is admirably adapted for pressed brick purposes and guarantees that if a pressed brick plant is put in here there will be no trouble in making brick of the best quality. The estimated expense of such a plant is $10,000. Mr. Voelker is now considering whether to engage in this enterprise. If he does it is possible that some other gentleman may be associated with him. (The Winona Daily Republican, Friday, December 8, 1893, Page 3)

Pressed Brick Plant. It Is to be Hoped One May be Established Here. Mention was made in Saturday’s Republican that Voelker & Co. were considering the establishment of a pressed brick plant in Winona. Mr. Jacob Voelker is now in St. Louis looking up the machinery that will be required. He will probably return this week. Mr. Voelker estimates the expense of putting in such a plant at from $12,000 to $15,000. He is prepared to put $8,000 in the venture, and thinks he ought to have stock subscribed for the rest. The plant would employ twenty-five men and five teams. Mr. Voelker has looked into the matter quite thoroughly and is satisfied that the investment would pay. He says there is no doubt but that an excellent pressed brick could be made in Winona. Voelker & Co. are proprietors of the extensive brick yards in Burns valley. (Winona Daily Republican, Monday, February 17, 1896, Page 3)

Trying New Kilns. Tests Preparatory to Starting a Pressed Brick Plant. Experiments Will Last Two Months, After Which Voelker & Co. Hope to be Able to Announce They Will Establish Such an Industry in Burns Valley. Mr. J. Voelker of Voelker & Co. has returned from St. Louis, where he went to examine pressed brick machinery as heretofore noted in THE REPUBLICAN. He believes that it will be good investment to put in a plant here, and looking toward that end is now experimenting as to the best kind of kiln to be used. There are four kinds of up draft kilns, one of which will have to be adopted. He thinks it will take about two months to complete satisfactory tests. Desirable clay for making the bricks can be obtained in Burns valleys. If the pressed brick plant is established it will be a valuable addition to Winona’s industries. (Winona Daily Republican, Monday, March 2, 1896, Page 3)

Voelker & Groff have on exhibit (at the Fall Street Fair), just east of Druid hall, a wall constructed of their brick and also a brick walk. (The Winona Daily Republican, Tuesday Evening, September 14, 1897, Page 3)

Winona. Brick Manufacturing – Voelker & Groff. Second Inspection 1900. Adults – Male - 30. Total No. Employed - 30. No. Hours Labor Each Day - 10. Average No. Weeks Employed in Year – 26. (Seventh Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of Minnesota, 1899-1900, Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1900, Page 106)

Jacob Voelker, Winona, Minn., has closed down for the season. He contemplates making improvements before the spring opening. (Clay Record, Clay Record Publishing Company, Chicago, October 14, 1901, Volume XIX, Number 7, Page 25)

Jacob Welker (Voelker), a brick manufacturer of Winona, Minn., is planning a $10,000 brick works for LaCrosse, Wis. (Clay Record, Clay Record Publishing Company, Chicago, February 14, 1903, Volume XXII, Number 3, Page 31)

Page 220. Winona. Brick and Tile – 1903. Voelker & Groff. Total Number Wage Earners - 24. Adult Males - 24. Number of Hours Each Day - 10. Number of Hours Each Week - 60. Average Number Weeks Operated During 1902 - 36. Number Employed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. – 1. Number Persons Regularly Employed Sunday – 1. Established in Year – Illegible.

Page 221. 1904. Total Number Wage Earners - 28. Adult Males (Excluding Office Force) - 28. Number of Hours Each Day – 10. Number of Hours Each Week – 60. Average Number Weeks Operated Last Year - 35. Number Employed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. - 2. Number Persons Regularly Employed on Sunday - 2. Changes in Name of Firm or New Inspections – None. (Ninth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of Minnesota, 1903-1904, Volume 2, Great Western Printing Company, 1904)

Shortage of Brick. Local Yards Unable to Supply the Demand. Which Was Very Heavy. The demand for building brick for use in Winona and other parts of the northwest is well emphasized at the present time in the fact that all home made brick has been sold and that if any more brick is required between now and the opening of the regular building season it will have to be brought in from the outside. Winona has two large brick factories which are located a short distance outside the city limits, that of Voelker & Groff in West Burns valley and that of P. Biesanz in Gilmore valley. It is impossible to make brick during freezing weather, consequently since the middle of October no brick have been turned out here, nor can the kilns again be set at work before about the middle of April. However, at the earliest possible moment the manufacture of brick will be resumed, and both the local brickmakers are planning to enlarge their output next season, as both of them could have disposed of a good deal more last season had they been able to turn it out. The brick which is made in Winona is a fine quality of the common red brick, the clay secured near here being well adapted to turning out these goods. Neither of the local brick factories have made any attempt to manufacture pressed brick, being well satisfied with the results attained in turning out common brick. It is, however, within the realm of possibility that in the not far distant future a particular kind of pressed brick may be manufactured here. Certain gentlemen have looked up the matter the past season, and found that the conditions here are excellent for turning out this particular brick, only it needs capital to set the matter going. Part of this has already been pledged, but not sufficient as yet to warrant the beginning of the undertaking.

Hence any particular statement in the matter cannot be made at this time, further than to say that the project may go thru in the coming year. In speaking regarding the output of brick from his kilns last year Mr. J. Voelker of the Gilmore valley brick yards states that their works started up on April 13 and continued thru to October 13, altho the severe rains of the summer and fall interfered somewhat with the work, wet weather being not conducive to brick making. The aim had been to turn out about three million brick, but it had been impossible to get beyond the two and a half million mark. In addition to the wet weather being against brick making, help was rather scarce toward the end of the season and the works could not be run at their fullest capacity. Mr. Voelker says that had it been possible to turn out three million brick there would not have been the slightest difficulty in disposing of them. The export demand for the year was very large and there would have been no difficulty in disposing of all the brick outside without the heavy home demand that sprang up at the end of the season. The erection of the new factory building of the Winona Carriage company and the brewery building of the Park Brewing company called for considerable brick and on the part of their firm meant the refusal of a number of orders from outside. Mr. Voelker stated that his firm had supplied the brick for the brewery building proper, while those for the bottling works and office building had come (from) another firm. Mr. Voelker concluded by saying that every effort would be used the coming season to increase the brick output of the West Burns valley yards to at least three million, and he believed it could be done. With the present building demand in this section of country it could all be disposed of without much difficulty. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Saturday, January 23, 1904, Page 3)

The demand for building brick in Winona, Minn., and other parts of the northwest has been exceptionally brisk. Winona has two large brick factories, located a short distance outside the city limits, that of [Jacob] Voelker & [Louis] Groff in West Burns Valley and that of P. Biesanz in Gilmore Valley. These plants are both closed down at the present time, a renewal of operations being contemplated in April. Both Mr. Voelker and Mr. Biesanz comment favorably on last year’s business and the prospects for 1904. Brickmaking operations in 1903 were much hampered by wet weather. The annual output of these yards averages 2,500,000 brick. (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, Volume XX, Number 2, February 1904, Page 111)

Voelker & Groff, proprietors of the Winona brick yards at Winona, Minn., state that they have made over 2,500,000 brick during the past season. Mr. Voelker contemplates purchasing additional equipment for the plant during the spring, as the prospects in the brick business are excellent. (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, February 1905, Volume XXII, Number 2, Page 120)

Voelker & Groff Brick Co., Winona, Minn., made 3,000,000 brick last year, and will increase the capacity of the plant by making some improvements. (Clay Record, Clay Record Publishing Company, Chicago, March 30, 1906, Volume XXVIII, Number 6, Page 43)

The Voelker & Groff Brick Co., of Winona, Minn., made 3,000,000 brick during the last season and expects to expand the plant to increase the output this year. (Brick, Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, May 1906, Volume XXIV, Number 5, Page 240)

Important improvements have been made to the brick plant of Voelker & Groff at Winona, Minn., which will greatly increase the capacity of the plant. A cable conveyor has been installed, operated by an electric motor, and which will handle the brick from stage to stage of its manufacture greatly diminishing the operative cost. The demand for brick is good and the capacity of the plant is about 25,000 daily. (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, Volume XXVI, Number 5, May 1907, Page 66)

Brick Making Has Begun. The Two Winona Plants Look Forward to a Big Demand During the Present Year. Both Have Best Equipment. And Winona Made Brick is Known All Over the Northwest for its Superior Qualities – Weather Now Warm Enough to Begin Work. The Biesanz brick yards in Gilmore valley and the Voelker & Groff yards in West Burns valley will begin to make brick this week. The Voelker & Groff yards started yesterday and the Biesanz yards will begin Saturday or Monday. The prospects in the brick business are fairly good this year and trade is expected to be better than last. Voelker & Groff have a capacity of 3,000,000 per year. They turned out 2,500,000 last year and have sold these all out this winter and spring. Last year was a dull year, however. The year before they were rushed to their capacity to fill orders. The late spring has put a damper on the usual big line of orders received at this time, but prospects are fairly good for the summer and fall seasons. Brick making may appear very simple, but it is somewhat complicated and requires some science and intricate machinery. The fine brick turned out of the two Winona plants, which has become known all over the Northwest for its superior quality, requires about a dozen handlings and thirty days in the sheds drying and in the kilns before it is ready for use. The brown clay is first plowed and then scraped into a car, which when loaded, is pulled by machinery up a grade to the pug mill, where it is disintegrated and mixed with water, at the same time being kneeded (kneaded) like bread thru the mill into the automatic Potts molder. The clay is formed into shapes and dropped into cherry wood molds lined with sand. From the molds it goes to the drying sheds to dry ten days. They are then put into the kilns, where they bake for ten days and ten nights and then are allowed to cool seven. The Biesanz kilns hold 250,000 bricks, all baked at one time. A force of eighteen men is employed at the Biesanz plant during the making season. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Thursday, May 6, 1909, Page 4)

A pleasing and interesting feature of the Middle West Convention, held in Chicago, Jan. 17-19, was the exhibit displayed by the various manufacturers of clay products in attendance. Sand molded brick, from the plant of Voelker & Goss (Groff), Winona, Minn. (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, February 1, 1911, Volume XXXVIII, Number 3, Page 173)

Voelker & Groff. Proprietors of the Winona Brick Yards, which was established in 1884, by them. They make a specialty of manufacturing one of the best sand-mold face brick in the world. This statement has been substantiated by builders who know what brick is and who are particular in the use of their material. The entire plant is equipped with all modern improvements and appliances and there is not a brick yard in the state which possesses superior facilities for the manufacture of this much used article. They have a Monarch mixing and moulding machine of the latest design. The soak pit has an underneath conveyor which carries the clay to the mixer, where it is mixed and moulded and made ready for the carriers which carry it into the dry shed. The wire cable carrier system with a gravity curve reaches to all parts of the drying sheds, which have a capacity of 274,000 bricks. They have kiln facilities that will easily handle from 220,000 to 500,000 bricks at one fire. The plant also has a tramway system from the clay pits to the soak pit. A thirty-five horse power motor supplies the power for the mixing and moulding machine. A ten horse power motor on the winding drum which hauls the clay from the pit. A five horse power motor for the conveyor system and a two and one half horse power motor for the pumping station. The output at this plant is 3,000,000 bricks every season. Any information in regards to price or the quality of brick manufactured by this firm can be secured by writing Voelker & Groff, postoffice box 224, Winona, Minn. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Wednesday, July 26, 1911, Page 58)

Brick Was In Much Demand. Winona Brick Manufacturers Do a Larger Business in 1913 Than During Previous Year. Five and a Half Million. This the Number Turned Out At the Two Plants in This City – Close to Fifty Men Given Employment at the Plants. More brick was made at the two Winona brick yards during the past summer than during the previous year, the total of 5 ½ millions bricks being turned out. The increased demand and improved facilities for making the brick resulted in an augmented output. The Biesanz company produced 2 ½ millions at their kilns in Gilmore valley and Voelker & Groff made three millions in West Burns valley. Equipment Installed. Voelker & Groff have also installed an electric clay shovel, a scraping outfit, and built three new sheds and drying rooms. They have furnished brick for jobs at Rochester, Minn., and Bangor, Wis., and other points within a radius of 100 miles. Mr. Groff states that common kiln run brick have advanced from $7.50 to $8.00 and select sidewalk, paving brick and veneer brick have gone up from $9.00 to $10.00. Voelker & Groff have employed about twenty-five men during the summer and the Biesanz company has had from fifteen to twenty men on the pay roll. Both companies expect to increase their business next year. More brick building was done in Winona during the past year than in 1912. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Friday, September 26, 1913, Page 6)

Three miles southwest of Winona is a deposit which shows the following section: (not included). Near the clay just described alluvium has accumulated along Burns Creek. This extends over more than 40 acres and is 12 to 14 feet thick. The clay is blue-black and very plastic, and most of it is free from pebbles. The clay is used for mixing with the clays in the same neighborhood, but the plant is at a disadvantage in being located some distance from the railroad. It burns salmon color at low temperatures, but becomes brown when well vitrified. About three million brick are produced each season at this plant. (Clays and Shales of Minnesota, Frank F. Grout and E. K. Soper, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1914, Page 169)

Page 820. Voelker & Groff, proprietors of the Winona Brick Yards, Winona, Minn., write: "Our conditions are somewhat different than your subscriber’s. We run our Wellington Monarch machine with one motor and cable conveying machine with another motor

Page 821. pumping water with another large motor on our drag line scraper for scraping our clay motor on centrifugal pump for pumping water out of the clay bank. We pay for our power by a sliding scale. The minimum charge is 2 ½ cents per K. W. Our power costs us 0.234 per M. brick." (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, April 7, 1914, Volume XLIV, Number 7, Page 55)

Making of Bricks Carried on in West Burns Valley. Plant of Voelker & Groff Has Had Most Successful Year Turning Out Three Million Sand Molded Bricks – Clay Hauling Machine Shown. One of Winona’s industries which has enjoyed a successful season is the brick manufacturing plant of Voelker & Groff in West Burns valley. The plant, which concluded its work for the year on last Monday, turned out three million brick this year, the largest output in the history of the plant, and half a million more than in the preceding year. The plant will be shut down from now to next April, as bricks cannot be made during freezing weather. The plant during the season of its operation gives employment to about twenty-five men and in addition there are five more men with teams who haul the brick to their destination in the city of Winona and to the railway depots for shipment outside. About a third of the output of the plant is used in building operations in Winona and the other two-thirds shipped away. The brick is made from clay to be found in West Burns valley on the land on which the plant is located, and Mr. Voelker says there is enough clay there to run the plant for the rest of his natural life. The accompanying illustration shows the drag line scraper, by which the clay is hauled from the pit where it is dug for a distance of about three hundred feet to a car. It is then taken to the dry kiln, where it is thoroly dried and then goes to the brick making machine and after being moulded into brick is dumped onto pallets and the pallets and bricks are taken to the drying sheds, an endless cable system being used. When the brick come out of here they are the finished product ready for delivery. These Winona made bricks are of high quality and in good demand in tributary territory. They have been used in many of Winona’s best buildings and always with excellent satisfaction. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Saturday, November 21, 1914, Page 12)

Voelker & Groff, of Winona, Minn., wrote us in 1912, saying: "We have used the Anderson Brick Conveyor System for six years and find that it is the best labor saver ever invented, for a brick yard. We recommend it to anyone who is looking for a labor saving proposition. On a 50,000 capacity yard, it should save from 4 to 5 men." (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, March 2, 1915, Volume XLVI, Number 5, Page 496)

Brickyard Starts Work. The Voelker & Groff brickyard at Sugar Loaf began operations for the season this week with a crew of 18 or 20 men. For several days previously the work of stripping the clay pit and making various improvements about the yard was in progress. The scraper and slide have been changed and other work done. When hauling begins the present crew will be further increased. The company has sold most of its available stock and looks forward to a busy season this year. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Thursday, April 29, 1920, Page 7)

The following year (1942) he (Philip Biesanz) purchased the Voelker-Groff brick yards in West Burns Valley and has continued the manufacture of bricks at that since then. (The Winona Daily News, Saturday, November 19, 1955, Page 94)