1880 Antique Clay Brick DeWitt Clinton Sage Brick Co Of Eastern Long Island

Description: 1880 Antique Clay Brick DeWitt Clinton Sage Brick Co Of Eastern Long Island . Shipped with USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box. from Fishers Island during the mid to late 1800s was high quality bricks. The exact date of discovery of the vast clay deposits on Fishers Island is unknown, however, prior to the 1800s, the clay deposits possessed many evidences that bricks and other items were made throughout the history of the island. The first identifiable brick on the island, however, was crafted by Eugene Strickland but it was not until the arrival of the prominent Connnecticut businessman, DeWitt Clinton Sage, that the clays of Fishers Island were memorialized in New England architecture and municipal projects. DeWitt Clinton Sage was born in Middletown, Connecticut in 1837 to Barzella and Elizabeth Sage. He learned the brick making business at an early age working as an apprentice to his father. When he was sixteen years old his father died, leaving him to manage the developing brick making business. After successfully conducting the business for six years he sold it and then focused much of his time on making machinery, a trade in which he was quite successful. While on business overseas, he became interested in machining munitions and upon his return home he succeeded in developing a new cartridge for the war department. So how did Dewitt Clinton Sage arrive on Fishers Island? Ironically, following the closure of the munitions factory Mr. Sage was able to secure another contract manufacturing headstones for the national cemeteries. It was near the end of this venture that he fell ill and ventured to the island to convalesce. While on the island he met Eugene Strickland (the local brick maker) and bought the clay deposits between Clay Point and Hawks Nest Point with every intention of starting a brick making yard. Mr. Sage's solid experience and business sense rapidly catapulted brick making on the island to a tremendous scale. In 1879 The Mystic Press reported that 2,500,000 bricks were delivered every season. In 1883 The Brooklyn Eagle reported that the yard has gone into a 'possession of a stock company' electing Mr. DeWitt Sage as the president. He continued this venture for 10 years then decided to set his sights on the Southold mainland. Fishers Island bricks were of superior quality and were sought after to comprise the exterior of many accomplished buildings and projects. The City of New York ordered 25,000,000 bricks for a new aqueduct to supply water to the population. As a testament to the quality of clay on Fishers Island, all of the three Winthrop houses were constructed of Fishers Island brick including the Mansion House and Brick Yard house which is reportedly filled with spirits (not the drinking kind).

Price: 15 USD

Location: Portsmouth, Rhode Island

End Time: 2024-12-24T04:47:41.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD