Purington Paving Brick Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brick manufacturing |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Founder | Dillwyn V. Purington, William C. Purington |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | East Galesburg , United States |
Key people | Omer N. Custer (president) |
| Products | Bricks, brick pavers |
Purington Paving Brick Company—also referred to as Purington Brick Company—was a brick manufacturing firm based in East Galesburg, Illinois, United States. Established in 1890 by Dillwyn V. Purington and William C. Purington, the enterprise focused on producing bricks tailored for the building materials sector. Omer N. Custer held the position of president during a portion of the company’s history. Operations were discontinued in 1974.
Origins
In 1849, Henry Grosscup, a skilled German stonemason, acquired 90 acres from Knox College to launch a brickyard. His payment consisted of the first bricks he produced, which were utilized in constructing Old Main and Whiting Hall.
1890-1949
The Purington brothers, Dillwyn V. and William S., purchased Grosscup’s brickyard in 1890 and founded the Purington Paving Brick Company. They grew the business by absorbing several nearby rivals, such as Pioneer Brick Company and Galesburg Brick and Terra Cotta Company. The firm became well-known for its "Purington Pavers," marked by raised lettering, which achieved international distribution—from America’s Midwest to locations including Bombay, Paris, and Panama City during the construction of the Panama Canal. At its height, Purington was recognized as the world’s largest producer of brick pavers, manufacturing more than 150,000 bricks each day.
On December 31, 1910, William S. Purington divested all his shares due to health concerns and ongoing labor disputes. During the Second World War, the company secured a significant contract with DuPont, supplying 22 million bricks for an Indiana facility while operating at full capacity over a span of 146 days.
Nevertheless, increasing preference for asphalt and concrete caused a sharp decline in demand for paving bricks, leading to the discontinuation of paving brick production in 1949.
1950-1974
Following the halt of paver manufacturing, Purington Brick Company continued to produce bricks intended for construction purposes. In 1952, the company upgraded its facilities by introducing "continuous" brick kilns to improve production efficiency. Despite these advancements, operations ceased permanently in 1974.
Post-1974 Developments
After closing in 1974, ownership of the brickyard transferred to Alton Brick Company under Marge Schott’s leadership. Since then, the site has fallen into disrepair. In 2008, two business owners acquired the property with plans to repurpose it as hunting grounds and to sell salvageable bricks—signaling a transition from manufacturing activities toward asset liquidation.
Manufacturing Process
Purington bricks were crafted using premium local materials including blue shale and yellow clay, which contributed both to their strength and their characteristic coloration ranging from maroon to deep purple after firing. Unlike competitors who produced softer bricks, Purington specialized in creating hard bricks designed for paving and infrastructure applications—offering a market advantage through enhanced durability. The production involved blending, crushing, and shaping shale into oversized raw bricks to compensate for shrinkage during vitrification in kilns. To prevent adhesion during firing, sand was applied to the bricks’ surfaces, maintaining product integrity. This meticulous approach established the company’s reputation for producing long-lasting construction materials.