Site of Thurber Brick Plant
Texas and Pacific Coal Company general manager W. K. Gordon, seeing potential in the shale mud found in Thurber, persuaded company president R. D. Hunter to build a brick plant here in 1897. Original machinery included three Ross-Keller brick presses powered by a Corliss steam engine nicknamed "Old Hunter." The operation covered five acres and employed 800 men. Brick manufactured here was used to pave roads throughout Texas, including old Bankhead Highway (US 80), Austin's Congress Avenue, Fort Worth's Camp Bowie Boulevard, and the Galveston Seawall. The plant closed in 1931. (1995)
32.5048° N, 98.4147° W
Where to Find It
from Thurber, take south access road to I-20 east 100 yards
Nearby Markers
- <0.1 mi W Site of Thurber's First Coal Mine Thurber
- <0.1 mi W New York Hill Thurber
- 0.1 mi SE Whitehead Cemetery Mingus
- 0.1 mi W St. Barbara's Catholic Church Thurber
- 0.2 mi N Thurber Thurber
- 0.3 mi NW Site of Hotel Knox and Thurber Mining Office Thurber