Historic leaves, volume 1, April, 1902 - January, 1903

[18] heat; this was done by wetting up portions of clay and daubing it on with the hands until the whole surface was covered. This was generally a rainy-day job. When ready for this work the green hand was sent to the next yard to borrow a ‘daubing-iron’ for the purpose. The hands at the other yard understood the situation, and while admitting the existence of the tool concluded that the next yard beyond had borrowed it of them, and he would have to go there for it; and so the new arrival was sent from yard to yard until it dawned upon him that he was being fooled, and he would return only to be laughed at.

Sometimes a proprietor would drive a sharp trade with a fresh arrival, would offer him a smaller rate per month than was being paid, but tell him he might divide the ashes after the several burnings with two or three other green hands like himself just hired. Knowing that in his country wood-ashes had a value, he would accept the terms, only to find when the first kiln was burned that there were no ashes remaining. In burning bricks complete combustion occurs; at all events, no ashes are found.

It would be safe to state, perhaps, that of all the brickmakers along the turnpike, Mark Fisk made himself felt more than the others; financially stronger, perhaps, than the others, he was looked up to by the smaller makers, some of whom were in his debt and carried on the business with the aid of Fisk's money. He owned twenty-two acres of land,—clay land and ledge,—was more progressive than the others, for it was Mark Fisk and Gardner Ring who bought of the patentees the sole right to make and sell in Eastern Massachusetts glazed bricks, tiles, etc. This was in 1839. Unlike the white enamelled brick of to-day, such as we see in the subway, their process put a gloss on the common red bricks; but the movement was too soon by a generation, and few, if any, were ever put upon the market. Next in importance among the brickmakers was David Washburn. A part of the years he operated two yards. The older residents of Somerville will remember him; he was a very large man, had a slight impediment