Brick Kiln, Dilsey Creek Henderson Co. TX


Athens Weekly Review Feb. 11, 1926

Mr. Richardson Supplies Facts on Early Brick Kiln

The notice in the last week's Review of the workmen at Fair Park
finding evidence of a former brick kiln on the site was
responsible for a call Saturday by J. H. (Babe) Richardson of
Poynor, at the Review office.  He dropped in to supply the name
of the maker of the bricks found by the workmen.  He says that a
man named Skates started a kiln of brick there in 1858 but for
some reason abandoned the project before reaching the stage of
"firing" the kiln.

The man lived near the branch which was given his name by the
residents of that day.  The road leading by the cemetery and
which passed by his house then known as the Pine Bluff road.

The branch near which now stands the Review's Home Beautiful
bore the name of Skates' Branch until after the "War between the
States" ("Uncle Babe" said, Don't call it the "Civil War" "Dammit
there wasn't nothing CIVIL about it:)

After the, War Between the States, an old negress "Aunt Dilsey"
lived in a cabin on what is now Palestine drive, near some
springs that formed the branch in question and which was
re-christened, bearing her name and by which it is now known.

Mr. Richardson said the first bricks made in the county were
burned on the lot now occupied by the Mrs. L. A. Powers home
on Tyler street.  Uncle Jimmie Clannahan who came to Athens
from South Carolina, made a kiln of bricks on the site mentioned
in 1855.  He was a brick mason and in the same year built the
first brick chimney in the county for two lawyers, Tannehill and
Moore whose law office, a small frame structure occupied the
site where now stands the Dixie Theater.

Mr. Richardson was a boy of fourteen at the time and was
impressed by his first sight of the brick kiln.

The only other person now living here whom he can remember
that lived here then was a wee tot named Kate Jordan.  She is
now Mrs. M. E. Richardson.

Commenting on the letter of A. W. Meredith of Wills Point,
published in the Review, Mr. Richardson states that this is the
most accurate bit of Henderson County history that he has seen
published.  He remembers Mr. Meredith well.  There were in
school together.

Submitted by Bunny Shumate Freeman

Your are visitor Thanks for stopping by!

Old Newspaper Articles of Henderson County

Back To Henderson County TXGenWeb

This site is owned and maintained by the Henderson Co. TXGenWeb Co. Coordinator. Content of this site has been gathered from many sources and transcribed records. Therefore, errors may occur. When in doubt as to the accuracy of data contained herein, go to the actual records yourself. If you find any inaccurate data, please let us know. The information contained in this website is for your personal use only. All pages, compilations, transcriptions and abstracts are protected by copyright law and may not be published in whole or in part without written consent of the author, contributor and/or webmaster.