History group retraces Calder Brick Works
By Alex Davis, News Assistant

About 30 people trekked through the remains of Calder Brick Works last weekend. Several of them explored a tunnel presumably constructed of the Calder bricks. Only foundations and scattered bricks remain at the site. Here, Gladys Holt, Glenda Card and Eugene Card make their way toward the site. Taking the tour were, from left: front -- Eugene Card, Bob Spaeth, John Kautz, John Micklich, Marian Micklich, Kent Davis and Ed Holt; second row -- Gladys Holt, Glenda Card, Sarah Jordan, Susan Hoy, Alex Davis, Jim Kempher, Bibi Park, Bob Jenkins, Fran Klock and Inez Jordan; third row -- Jim Smith, L. Smith, John Jordan, Don Hoy, Tammy Slyder, Mike Wennin, Randy Klock and Chuck Jordan; back row -- Louie Slyder, Greg Jeffers, Ken Ostrum, Brian Reid, Steve VanEerden, Kara VanEerden and Chuck Jordan. Not pictured: Wendy Davis.

Scattered bricks and portions of a foundation are about all that remains at the site of what was once a thriving Cameron County business.

Last weekend, Cameron County Genealogy Club took a step back in time, visiting the site of the old Calder Brick Works, also known as Cameron Penn Block Works, which employed about two dozen people from 1898 to 1919.

About 30 people made the trek to the site off Steam Mill/ Hunts Run Road. Products from the plant bear the imprint, "Penn Block-Cameron, PA" and "Calder, Pa." Heavy competition eventually drove Calder out of business, but some of the bricks are still in use today.

The former First National Bank in Emporium and the public library building were constructed of Calder bricks. The local bricks were also used to pave the former Sylvania Corporation parking lot.

A small community, consisting of upwards of 15 residences, formed in the vicinity of the factory. Efforts to establish a post office there failed.

Several of Saturday's tourists ventured into a massive underground tunnel, constructed of bricks, which was used as a heat passage for the kilns, using flashlights to illuminate their way.

Genealogy Club leader Wendy Davis said a followup trip to Calder Brick Works will probably be scheduled next year. She expressed appreciation to Louie Slyder for sharing his knowledge of the brick works.