Blocks in the Wild: BILL MOOSE MEMORIAL at WYANDOT PARK, Upper Arlington, Ohio

Well, about three years later, a new post with an installment of Blocks in the Wild. Along State Route 33 / Riverside Drive, which runs parallel to the Scioto River is an easy to miss strip of park. Wyandot Park which includes the Bill Moose Memorial can be accessed via a small parking lot at Lane Road (not to be confused with nearby Lane Avenue). This small park is used by people in the neighborhood for leisurely walks. It is well worth a brief visit by brick hounds and history buffs.

Bill Moose was the last living Native American in Columbus who passed away in 1937. He has a strong connection to the part of Columbus I grew up in, Clintonville, and you will also find historical markers about him in that part of town as well. What I like about the Memorial in place at this park is that it is simple and of course, it includes an area of Ohio Bricks – Hocking Block and Nelsonville Block. This park is part of the Upper Arlington History Trail.

There is also information on the Scioto Trail (not to be confused with modern Scioto Trail in Downtown Columbus) via the Ohio History Connection. I read about this Native American pathway in books by Ohio author Allan W. Eckert in Frontiersmen and That Dark and Bloody River. If you are passing through this part of Central Ohio I hope you drop by to stretch your legs.

Medal M Block

Name: Medal M Block

Dimensions: 8 1/2 inches long, 4 inches wide, 3 1/2 inches high

Location Found: Westerville, OH – Brick Swap November 2019

Features: Four Square lugs on the front, “slot” on wide sides, “grooves” on top horizontal sides.

Weight: 9 lbs

No additional Information on this block, but I believe this was made by a Northeast Ohio company.

I used to this block to finish off a walkway at our new house. You can see the “pre-placement” for the walkway design in the last photo.

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Lincoln Block

Name: Lincoln Block

Dimensions: 8 1/2 inches long, 4 inches wide, 3 1/2 inches high

Location Found: Westerville, OH – Brick Swap November 2019

Features: Two long lugs on the front, “slot” on each side

Weight: 9 lbs

More information: The Land of Lincoln Block: Brick Making in Corning, Ohio

I have not had much time for “bricking” in the last four years. I have not been able to attend Brick Swaps either, which are great opportunities to learn more about bricks as well as to see and sometimes obtain bricks you can not find on your own. I was happy to add this to my collection which went immediately to a sidewalk

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Buckeye Block Roseville, O

Name: Buckeye Block Roseville, O(hio)

Dimensions: 9 inches long (estimate), 4 inches wide (face), 3 inches height (top to bottom)

Location Found: Scioto River near the new Crew Stadium

Features: Brick “sheen”

Weight: 8 lbs

Information
The Buckeye Pressed Brick Company (via Roseville Historical Society)((PDF for viewing))

I had about 15 minutes of “bricking” which I have not had in a few years. I was tasked with making a walkway for our new deck and I sensed I would be a few bricks short. I have been driving by a “money” spot all summer and knew with the river having been low for months, it would be prime picking. I did not have to look long or hard to get the spares I needed. I was surprised and happy to find one I did not have (although less than ideal condition) as easily as I did.

BIG 4 Block (for the Big 5-0)

Name: Big 4

Dimensions: 8 1/2 inches long, 4 inches wide, 3 1/2 inches high

Location Found: Westerville, OH

Features: Two long lugs on the front.

Weight: 10 lbs

My wife’s family thinks it is odd to collect bricks (well, most people do), but when possible, they deliver the goods. In this case on my 50th Birthday. When a person brings a brick to a family gathering it causes confusion and a stir. Questions were asked: Where did you find it? (Answer: in a creek) Response from guests – Eww. Response from me – Totally legit (that is where I found most of my early bricks). The best brick is one found for free with minimal labor but a close second is one given as a gift by someone that things doing so is probably crazy. I am happy for any brick I am given but in this case, it was one I did not have. Since I have not had time to go “bricking” this was a a real treat.

I do have another BIG 4 but it is different than this one. See the link for reference -> Malvern Big 4

Related links:

Short History of Brick Making in Stark County

Malvern, earliest brick factory

Ohio Geology 1999

The photo below gives you a better view of one of the lugs on the front of this brick.

Bessemer Block Youngstown, O

Name: Bessemer Block Youngstown, O

Dimensions: 8 3/4 inches long, 4 inches wide, 3 3/4 inches height

Location Found: Gift from a friend, found in greater Cleveland area.

Features: 4 Oval Lugs

Weight: 10 lbs

While many people raise an eye and my wife does not understand the allure of finding a good brick but a few people do appreciate my hobby so I sometimes get a call or text asking if I have a certain brick or not. While I prefer to obtain my bricks the old fashioned way (wandering around a ravine, construction site or somewhere looking for a half buried brick in the muck) I will accept brick from friends.

More about Bessemer Block from BrickFrog

And even more about Bessemer Block -> HERE

Blocks in The Wild: Jackie O’s Taproom and Jackie O’s Farm

While visiting Jackie O’s (Athens, Ohio) production brewery and tap room, I found these blocks in the entrance way and others nearby. If you are new to Athens you will find many of the nearby streets are still made of these blocks. Jackie O’s is a pretty amazing place. This site features a small taproom, an event space, a sour beer program and solar panels that supply over 60% of the energy needs of the site.

Jackie O’s Brewpub (the original location) in uptown Athens also has a good supply of blocks in the back patio area. After visiting the taproom, I visited their farm to learn about growing hops and found the wonderful pizza over you see below. Craft Beer and craft blocks go great together. But a pizza oven (which is my goal) is even better.

Metropolitan Block Canton O (Reverse N)

I came across this block while getting a few stones from one of my picked over sites that I no longer check (since I cleaned it out). Looking at it, it was a bit more worn that I prefer but I noticed the reverse n in Canton so I decided to take it because I thought that was unique. While prepping this post I looked at my other Metropolitan Blocks listed in here and saw the same reversal. I am not sure how I missed that before – I guess at the time, I was just excited to find one. Below are the other entries which provide more information on this style.

Metropolitan Block Canton, O

Metropolitan Block Canton, O (Version 2)

Metropolitan Special Canton O

Peebles Block Portsmouth Ohio (recessed letters)

Name: Peebles Block (Portsmouth Ohio) Recessed letters

Dimensions: 8 3/4 inches long, 3 3/4 inches wide, 3 1/2 inches height

Location Found: Weiland Park / my spare pile of bricks

Weight: 10 lbs

Notes: Recessed letters.  Recessed letters for Portsmouth, Ohio  
Made by PEEBLES PAVING BRICK CO.

I had this brick for over a year before I realized this was one I had not cataloged. I was going through my pile of spare bricks/blocks for trading purposes and finally noticed that this and the other three like it in the pile did not have raised letters and thus, I have a find that was hiding in my back yard.

Also see:
Peebles Block Raised Letters
Another version from this brick company

The Perfect Book for An Ohio Brick Hound

If you are now an established Brick Hound, then you may want to get this book from the Dean of Ohio Brick Hunters Don Dzuro. Historic Ohio Bricks is a self published, small batch compendium of Ohio Bricks that can not be equaled. Clocking in at 407 pages this book lists out information on over 2400 different bricks styles created in the Buckeye State. The listing of Brick Manufacturers and individuals known to made bricks covers pages 348 to 406, so if you thought your Ohio brick collection was complete…..there is some daunting news for you in this tomb of knowledge.

Most listings for bricks include a sketch outline, black and white photograph or color photograph of the brick as well as any known information about the brick and where it was made. You can not buy this book on Amazon or local bookseller. Your best bet is to write Don and ask if he has any left. Inquiries can be mailed to Don Dzuro, 709 Sharon Street, Akron, Ohio 44314.

I did borrow the 2008 edition via interlibrary loan and you can read about that -> HERE.

The new edition is very similar but does have some improvements and more information.