Beams and Bricks

We were picking up beams from an UES building (history on the building to be posted by my amateur NYC historian, JT) and came across some interesting bricks.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Hudson River Valley was the epicenter of the brickmaking industry with Haverstraw, NY called the "brickmaking capital of the world". Because of the rich blue clay found on the banks of the river, hundreds of brick yards were established in the area. At its height, there were about 130 brick yards along the Hudson River.

(Source:  www.brickcollecting.com)

White Pine and Doug Fir beams

White Pine and Doug Fir beams

8.5 x 3 and 10.5 x 3

8.5 x 3 and 10.5 x 3

upload.jpg

Most buildings constructed in NYC in the late 19th or early 20th centuries used bricks from The Hudson River Valley brick yards.

upload.jpg

P & M (Pickering & Malcoff Brick Co.) was located in Glasco, a community in Saugerties, NY.  Brick workers first came to Glasco from Ireland then Italy and Germany.

upload.jpg

HRB Co. (Hudson River Brick Company) was located in Grassy Point, north of Haverstraw and boasted 26 brick making machines in 1920.