Glen Carbon Newspaper Articles
HISTORIC JUDY BUILDING
Near Glen Carbon
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, April 11, 1892
From the Globe-Democrat, St. Louis - An old building, which is an
interesting historical relic, has been brought to public attention
in this neighborhood by the necessity for repairing it. It is
probably the oldest brick house in the State, excepting possibly
some built at Kaskaskia, the old French settlement, and the first
capital of Illinois. The building referred to is situated about five
miles southwest of the present location of Edwardsville, at the foot
of the bluffs, on the road to St. Louis, was erected by Colonel
Samuel Judy in 1811, and the same year the walls were cracked by the
earthquake which destroyed New Madrid, Missouri. The brick for the
building was burned in the immediate neighborhood of where the house
was located. The earthquake referred to threw the walls of the
building out of plumb, leaving it leaning toward the east, requiring
finally that the east end wall will have to be taken entirely down
to the ground, which Louis Klingemann, the executor of the estate of
William Peters, to whom the house belonged, will have done now. This
house was said to have been used as a fort against the Indians, who
were hired by the British, and made raids into this portion of the
country during the War of 1812. The windows had heavy oak-slab
perforated blinds, and port holes were in the wall of the second
story, through which to shoot Indians. The blinds have been replaced
with others, and the port holes have been closed up long ago. The
building was 30x40 feet, and had no hallway, but had in each story
two rooms, about 20x30 feet. The chimneys at each end are about 4x3
feet, with a bake oven in the cellar at one end. The timbers
extending from end to end in each story to support the floors were
12x12 inches, and the floor joists are made from logs split in the
center, with the flat portion on top. The building is quite a
curiosity.
GLEN CARBON BRICK WILL PAVE CHICAGO STREETS
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 22, 1894
Over 610 miles of Chicago streets will be paved with Madison County
pressed brick. The Chicago city council is about to let a contract
to F. G. Neidringhaus of St. Louis for 40,000,000 Glen Carbon
pressed brick. The contract is at $14 per thousand, and the
committee appointed to inspect all plants will make their report in
favor of Glen Carbon brick. They claim that the shale is excellent,
and that the press is the most suitable of any yet found. The
contract amounts to over $560,000, and Glen Carbon will be nothing
but a hole when the contract is complete.
GLEN CARBON - BRICK WORKS FIRE
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, April 16, 1895
The St. Louis Press Brick Company plant was entirely destroyed by
fire. The fire originated in a kiln near the center of the plant. It
was discovered in the afternoon about half past one by workmen of
the yards. The men began work earnestly to subdue the flames, but
despite their efforts, they spread, and soon three kilns were on
fire. The alarm was given to residents of the
neighborhood,
and these hurried to lend assistance. Shortly afterwards, the
whistle at No. 2 mine of the Madison Coal Company gave the alarm to
the village, and men and boys, young and old, hastened to the scene.
The wind was blowing strong in the direction of the Glen Carbon
hotel, owned by the Brick Company, and it together with the office,
blacksmith shop, and other buildings, were threatened. The hotel
furniture and other articles were removed to a place of safety
across the street. Within a half hour after the fire was discovered,
the entire plant was ablaze. Fortunately, the wind changed, and
nearly all the buildings, save the plant proper, were saved. Several
streams were playing on the fire constantly, and everything possible
with the means at hand was done. The damage is estimated at about
$200,000. It was insured for half that amount.
The plant was the leading industry of the live little city on the
south line of Edwardsville township. It, together with the Madison
Coal Company's mines, furnished employment to the residents. The
plant was built by the company, which is controlled by the Messrs.
Niedringhaus, in 1891, and has been in operation almost constantly
since. It gave employment to as high as 300 men. Recently, about 100
men have been working 13 hours a day. The product of the concern was
equal to the Galesburg brick. Fifteen flatcars on a switch of the
St. Louis & Eastern Railroad were also burned. It is reported that
the plant will be rebuilt at once.
NOTES:
The St. Louis Press Brick Company, located on the north side of Glen
Carbon on Glen Crossing Road, was one of the largest brick plants in
Madison County, producing ornamental as well as paving brick.
Articles of incorporation for the company were filed September 1,
1891.
The bricks from the Glen Carbon plant were used in constructing the
grounds and buildings of the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. At one
time, the company had twelve baking kilns in operation, with
steam-powered equipment to operate fans, presses, and other
machinery. Water for the boilers and mixing of clay was brought from
a pond northeast of the plant, across Glen Crossing Road.
The brick company erected houses for their workers to rent. A row of
six two-story saltbox style houses were built just below the
intersection of Main Street and Glen Crossing Road. This stretch of
houses was called “Brick Yard Row.”
A hotel was constructed at the crest of North Main Street, to
accommodate visiting company officials from St. Louis. It was
destroyed by a fire in the 1990s.
A fire at the brick plant occurred in 1895, however, the company
rebuilt. The plant ceased operations after the great fire of 1906.
Underground remains of the brickyard were found in November of 1994,
when the property was being excavated for the construction of a
home.
GLEN CARBON TO HOLD FAIR FOR ALLEGED MURDERER
Source: Buffalo, New York Morning Express, April 16, 1902
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.. April 15- - In order to raise money to defend
Joseph Machutis, charged with murder, the people of Glen Carbon,
Ill., will hold a fair. Machutis was brought here last night by
Chief Jones, who arrested him there on Saturday. He is charged with
the murder of Stanley Molensky two months ago in this city. He fled
and was traced through the coal regions until he was located at Glen
Carbon. He had been there two months when caught on Saturday and he
had made many friends. They believe he is innocent and as he has no
money, they are preparing to hold a fair to raise money for his
defense and to send his wife on here to engage lawyers and do her
best to get him freed. The fair will be held next week. The trial
will occur in a short time.
GLEN CARBON DESPERADO
Source: Syracuse, New York Telegram, June 15, 1905
Glen Carbon, Ill., June 15. - With one side of his face mutilated
with a charge of buckshot, Gustave Mergel, who murdered Mrs.
Josephine Keller and fatally wounded her husband at their home near
here on Tuesday, was captured by a posse yesterday afternoon in a
school house two miles south of this town. He was brought here in a
dying condition. The shooting of Mergel was done by a member of the
posse. Mergel had been pursued and tracked to the empty school
house. With all doors and windows barricaded he held his pursuers at
bay for several hours, firing upon them whenever they approached.