Evens & Howard, St. Louis


Fire brick embossed with "EVENS & HOWARD ST. LOUIS." It measures 9 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches and was discovered in the surface locus (001) of Square 3. The brick was broken during the buildings demolition by Operation Greenlot. The Evens & Howard Fire Brick Company began operation in 1857 and continued to operate through the 1930s. Fire bricks are manufactured to withstand the stress of repeated heating and cooling. The clusters of bricks in Square 3 were related to a collapsed chimney.
(Photo from http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/Joplin.html)


Ellen Williams, Alabama, said... Recently I took the motar off approximately 800 bricks which came from my grandmothers old home. Some of them are marked, "Evens & Howard, St. Louis." Can you tell me when they company was in business? We think the home was built circa 1874.

39 comments:

  1. Nick, from Paradise, CAFebruary 19, 2010 at 1:26 PM

    About 30 years ago while on a float trip on The Deschutes River in central Oregon I came across a pile of broken bricks near an old abondaned railroad. Probably the remains of a blacksmith shop or foundry. Sure enough, the firebrick had Evans & Howard, St. Louis stamped on them. I dugs through that pile and found two pieces of one that fit together. I packed it out and still have it in my shop. The whole pile didn't contain one whole brick.

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  2. I found this on the Internet:
    Evans & Howard Fire Brick Co., J. Howard, pres.,
    916 Market St, St Louis, MO

    From:
    THE CLAY MINES AND FACTORIES IN CHELTENHAM/DOGTOWN AND THEN ALL OF ST. LOUIS
    By LOUIS SCHMIDT
    (http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/dogtown/history/schmidt/schmidt4.html)
    "EVANS AND HOWARD FIRE BRICK CO.-- THIS INFO IS INCOMPLETE- EVANS AND HOWARD TOOK OVER FROM CHELTENHAM. I HAVE NO DATES EXCEPT CHELTENHAM STARTED IN 1855. FOR A WHILE THE NAME STAYED CHELTENHAM WITH EVANS AND HOWARD AS OFFICERS.THERE WERE THREE PLANTS THAT I KNOW OF--ONE AT N/E CORNER OF TAMM AND MANCHESTER, ONE ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF MANCHESTER AND TRACKS OF MO/PAC RAILROAD,WEST OF KINGSHIGHWAY WHERE THE TRACKS TURN AWAY FROM MANCHESTER, AND ONE PLANT WEST OF MACKLIND- EAST OF RIVER DES PERES BETWEEN NORTHROP AND PATTISON.

    "CHELTENHAM FIRE BRICK CO.--STARTED 1855--LATER OPERATED BY EVANS AND HOWARD--FROM TAMM TO BILLON,ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER."


    Some other links to follow:
    http://www.romeofthewest.com/2009/05/clay-mines-of-saint-louis.html
    http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/mhgs/1881%20Abridged%20Business%20Directory%20of%20St.%20Louis.pdf
    http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA1&id=rxwMAAAAYAAJ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
    http://genealogyinstlouis.accessgenealogy.com/1875-1.htm

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  3. Hey A friend and I found some Evens and Howard stamped bricks (and others). Do you know when the company closed so to determine the latest date they could have been made. We are in Tuscaloosa Alabama we looking in a creek bed near a railroad track.

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  4. Im from Iola, Kansas and just recently paid attention to these bricks that are covered approx. a foot under the dirt surfice and from what I can tell takes up the most part of my back yard.which is a pretty large area. Evans and Howard St. Louis is stamped on the bricks. Can Anyone tell me what these bricks were made for? Like were they used for a structure or road or what. And when were they made so that I would have some history to this house Im living into since I was 4 yrs old. I am now 39 and was just really curious. I know from my parents story They got that My house use to Be a two story apt. One apartment upstairs and one downstairs. If anyone has any history about this company please email me at jmsmurro@hotmail.com

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  5. James,

    Evans & Howard made firebrick. a kind of brick that is made of a clay formulated to withstand high temperature environments. For instance, boiler/furnace fire boxes, crucibles, smelter boshes, chimney flues, kilns, incinerators, and oven linings. This brand also had a wide distribution. That is they have been found "states away" from St. Louis. Your brick may have been part of a previous structure or a previous property owner may have gathered a large quantity of them to line an earthen basement or build a footpath. It would be helpful to know if the brick looked used, were set in place with or w/o mortar, one layer or multiple layers deep. For more history (what I have often done) is go to the county office building and find the real property service office. You want to take your deed and look up the previous owner's deed and that previous owner's deed and so on until you find something that looks like it will explain your situation. The parcels may get larger as you check back.

    I have the feeling that a developer may have buried some previously razed industrial property and covered over left over rubble with good earth prior to new construction taking place. You may also try to find your city's planning office or building inspector's office and ask if they had any old map books that may cover your property. . Have a copy of your tax bill handy as that bill should have section, parcel and lot numbers which denote the property on a tax map. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy. Some people do this kind of searching for banks, lawyers and title companies.... and they may give you good tips if they feel your are not competing with them.

    Thanks for visiting the website,
    Fred.

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  6. HI, Rochester, MN. Found a Evans @ Howard brick in our backyard. Jus t thought I would check out the web site. Thanks

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  7. hola soy de ahome sin,mex encontre un ladrillo con la leyenda de evens & howards sn. louis,si alguien puede informarme si tiene algun valor se agradecere mucho, enviar informacion a gockarr@hotmail.com, muchas gracias. p.d habia encontrado otro que decia 1800, creo que ambos son de el antiguo ingenio azucarero, pero extravie el que decia 1800.

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  8. Translation of previous post:
    hello Ahome sin, mex found a brick with the legend of evens & Howards sn. louis, if anyone can tell me if it has any value is greatly appreciated, send information to gockarr@hotmail.com, thank you very much. pd had found another that said 1800, I think both are from the old sugar mill, but lost the one that said 1800.

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  9. Just returned from a trip to Yellowstone National Park, and saw "Evans and Howard St. Louis" fire bricks lining the old stone fireplace in the lobby at the Old Faithful Inn.

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  10. Found a "Evans & Howard" brick at the previous site of Chata's restaurant and general store in Big Bend National Park, in southwest Texas, circa 1930's. This structure was bulldozed when the Park bought it, to return the land to its natural state. It's amazing how far and wide these bricks traveled!
    - JohnRich@dropzone.com

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  11. My daughter-in law found some here in Mt. Vernon, IN. She thought that they were a name of a family in the area and I told her that I thought that they were from a brick company in St.Louis and come to find out that I was correct but it was interesting to know that they were made for high temperature and high traffic areas.

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  12. I purchased a very well done plaque (profile) of Abraham Lincoln -- it is black in color- made of Fire brick mortar--very heavy--approx.24" ht. approx. 18'' wide very well done---the back is signed Evans & Howard Please send any news or comments on this item any will be appreciated!! Bettyleo30@cox.net Thanks!!!

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  13. I was recently fishing in Lake Medina, central Texas. The lake is man-made and is currently 50 foot below normal level. While walking around the shore at 50 foot below level, I noticed and picked up a brick labeled Evens and Howard. The lake was built in 1912 and it is indeed a mystery how a brick traveled so far.

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  14. My company sits on the E & H site. We are actually currently excavating our back lot and have found many ventilation shafts for the brick kilns.

    Randy Lewis
    rdl1@walsh-assoc.com

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  15. I live in Texas City, Illinois and we have some Laclede and Christy's and some Evans & Howards bricks that we have dug up in the back yard. We know that there was a brick factory here at one time but we cannot find very much information on it. We are wanting to get as much information as possible about our town. If anyone has information about this please Email me at danstidman@gmail.com

    Thank you,
    Dan

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  16. You have all misspelled Evens.

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  17. Thank you Anonymous! I have corrected the spelling on the heading of this post.

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  18. E&H bricks are located in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains of Southern Arizona at an old boiler for a mine.

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  19. I found numerous Evens and Howard bricks along the banks of the Missouri River in Boonville, Missouri this past weekend. I have found out about when the company began, but I have not been able to figure out if the company is still in business (I don't think it is), and what year it ceased operating? Any insight would be appreciated!

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  20. I found some Evens and Howard "bricks" just yesterday. I put "bricks" in quotes because they are such an odd size. They are off-white, which I guess means they are fire bricks, and about 12x12x4 inches thick. They remind me of those stepping stones you buy at Lowes.

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  21. my dad found a evens & howard brick in his yard while digging a water line. theres not much to find out on the interent but it says u can take a tour of the site in st louis, according to the info on wikipedia

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  22. A bit of genealogical information which followers of Evans, Howard Firebrick Company may find interesting: John Cooper Evans (the Evans half of the company) was born 1 May, 1811 in New Jersey. He married in 1846 at Philadelphia PA, Elizabeth W. Andrews. The couple shortly moved to St. Louis and remained there the rest of their lives. They had 8 children. John died in 1867 and is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Elizabeth remarried to Ellis N. Leeds, also from N.J. and Philadelphia, at St. Louis in 1871. Ellis died in 1892 and Elizabeth, leaving a large estate died at St. Louis, 1897. Elizabeth W. Cooper Leeds is my 3rd great Aunt. Would be happy to correspond with anyone interested in this family's ancestry.

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    1. elizabeth and john c.evens son john cooper born 1858 st.louis,mo
      john c died 1917 in pueblo,co john cooper 1858-1917 is the greatgrandfather of a very dear friend and I am trying to help him solve some ???'s he has re:the family. and of course jjohn cooper jr
      esp: john jr married in st.louis circa 1890-1891 the girl he married 16 years old to his 37
      became a famous colorado madame 1899 but 1st they left mo for denver,co had 1 daughter who was my friends grandmother but john and her never lived together once they got to denver they each went their own way and boarded out their daughter
      supposedly they left their son born late 1891-early 1892 with his family and as far as we know he never came to colorado
      when john married his wife took the birth name of john's sister laura a as her new given name!! so my friend and I cannot go back to alabame or mo to find her, much less find a marriage record anywhere!
      any ideas!! and help/suggestions will be much appreciated!!
      jackie hart stegeman genealogist/research consultant for john c's greatgrandson
      howard,co fremont county 719-484-9116

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  23. Came across 4 separate "towers" over 15' tall here is Wisconsin - just a few of the bricks were labeled "Evens & Howard St. Louis" - the ground was littered with wine bottles and beer cans from decades ago including a mummified cat(?) buried under the ashes in one of the tower's chambers. It was all very bizarre to see, but at the same time made me wonder what it was like decades ago. All that remained were these towers right to the side of an old country road, nothing else.

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  24. I was recently working on gutting a house in Brodhead,Wi and this house is about 140-150 old, because We found several Wheat Backs ranging from 1864 -1944. so that means the house could be 200 years old and guess what I found an intact brick that said Wens & Howard this house we are gutting survived a fire and had major damage sustained to the living room and upstairs living areas it had two wells the original well was under the garage the second was under the kitchen floor the original well under the garage was filled in with dirt and lined with rocks. and the house had these weird vents on the side of the house that looked like grates.

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  25. I was exploring an old abandoned mining town that was abandoned around 1895 and at the foot of a hill I found four kilns that were made entirely of Evens & Howard Co. bricks. The mining town was about 1 1/2 hours from St. Louis right along the Missouri River.

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  26. Son and I were exploring near an old quarry and found what appears to be an old brick furnace of some kind. Large stone structure. Approx 25x25 feet and 50 feet tall. Lower half is lined with bricks stamped "Evans & Howard St. Louis

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  27. A little history "clays in Missouri"; in 1846, some excellent clay deposits in the St.Louis. The alumina content of this clay was well suited for firebrick manufacturing so companies started moving in; one of the being Evans and Howard in 1855. Others include:
    1855: Christy Fire Clay Company (still in business)
    1855; Laclede Fire Brick Company (Consulated Christy in 1907)
    1855; Evans and Howard (purchased by General Refractories in 1930)
    St.Louis was one of the largest fireclay produces in the nation at this time.

    1855; Christy Fire Clay Company

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  28. I found 1 and 1/2 bricks on an old creek bed here in Bald Knob, AR. Strange to see only these two bricks lying to the side of the creek bed.

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  29. My entire house is made from Evans and Howard Bricks. Is there an archives to look up work they did in 1895 and 1922?

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  30. Does anyone have an Evans and Howard brick for sale? I am doing a brick backsplash in my kitchen and since my last name is Howard, I would love one of these!

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  31. I just found some bricks in my backyard and decided to google the name. Ive been living her for 5 years and never noticed them but i guess since its cooler now there is less grass in that area I can see it now. Im ne New Orleans. Should i leave it buried or dig them up?

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    1. Would you be willing to sell one of these bricks for my backsplash?
      626-664-3300. Please text me.

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  32. I found a brick in my yard that has CH no1 on it can someone tell me what that means

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  33. Hello! I was exploring by an old dam in northern Minnesota and I came across tons of "Evens and Howard" bricks. it looked like a building was knocked down and never cleaned up. nature is reclakming all the bricks so its a beautiful area. I just wanted to share becuse I read all the posts about these bricks being discovered all across the country! Very cool to see all these people gathering over this bit of found history!

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  34. About 30 years ago I purchased several pallet loads of Evens & Howard bricks from a brick yard in Frankfort, IL. I built a rear patio using these bricks, 12' x 30' Most of the bricks still look pretty good, considering the rough winters here in Illinois. I need to replace some of the deteriorated bricks, but can't find a place to buy them. Anyone know where I can still get some?

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  35. I currently live in St Louis and I often take photographs on the east side riverfront. I have found many of Evan and Howard's bricks in tack along the river. I've used a couple of them in my shots. I've also found bricks with just "St Louis AB" written on them I wonder if they were used for Anheuser-Busch??? I've got plenty of those bricks for sale and Evan and Howard's if anybody wants some contact me on my Instagram page @adamwayne_arts or text me 314-706-5297

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  36. I found one in my flower bed. I've lived here since 2015, boyfriend since about 2005 or so. Neither of us are plant people so we never dug into it, until this last weekend and I found one lonely brick buried with half grass half dirt. Olive in Oshkosh, Wisconsin..

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