so welcome to the rapids historical marker project presented by the rapids historical commission and ctn studios you've accessed the information regarding the minnesota ceramic company or better known as the brick chimney the brick company was well known nationally for its building materials bricks used for buildings and later on roads it was located on east river road in 86th lane the facility opened prior to 1881 and ran successfully for many years until it was forced to close due to storm damage in 1907. although the building was torn down the brick chimney remained as a landmark serving as a silent tribute to a once prosperous enterprise but in 1980 lightning struck the chimney and severely damaged the structure a week later the chimney was torn down for public safety reasons before brick almost all buildings in anoka county were built of wood the logging industry provided inexpensive building material in the early years of settlement but a huge fire destroyed much of the city of anoka in 1884 wood buildings proved to be no match for the intense flames once the city started to rebuild people preferred to use brick for its fireproof qualities and the brick industry in rapids began to thrive many of the red brick buildings in the city of anoka today were built a brick made right here in rapids brick also took on a new role at the turn of the century as a building material for area streets many existing brickyards converted their operations to accommodate the new demand for paving bricks which are more dense in structure and larger in size the minnesota ceramic company made both building and paving bricks the company had over 70 acres of clay deposits which had been bored to a depth of 130 feet without reaching bottom the plant was one of the most well equipped in the country and was located on a prime rail line which served the great northern northern pacific and pacific and eastern railroads the bricks made here were shipped by a rail where they were used all over the country the rail line also hauled the coal and oil needed to run the brick company the company allowed its workers to live on site providing a large boarding house as well as cottages for workmen with families the brick making industry thrived for only 35 years in rapids the company went out of business due to labor strife and competition from brickyards in other areas the minnesota ceramic company provided materials that built roads and buildings throughout america and its roots were right here in rapids