Utah Fire Clay Co.

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This page was last updated on September 17, 2024.

Overview

Utah Fire Clay company had two locations in Salt Lake City. The earliest was at 1100 South between the Salt Lake & Utah tracks along First West, and the UP (OSL) Provo Subdivision. The second location, originally known as Western Fire Clay, was between the UP and D&RGW tracks in Murray, at about 4200 South, where in later years, a street was named Fireclay Avenue.

The original location of the company's office and plant was at 1098 South First West in Salt Lake City. This location was served by a spur from UP's OSL line to Provo. A review of the available Sanborn fire insurance maps shows that as early as 1911, the site had grown to encompass both sides of the OSL mainline track, with a spur on the east side, and another spur on the west side. Aerial photos from 1958 show that the kilns, warehouses and other buildings were on both east and west sides of the OSL tracks. Aerial photos show the kilns remained until at least 1965, but were gone by 1971. (This would be in the vicinity of today's Goltz Avenue and 200 West, adjacent to UTA's light rail line, and extending westward across the former OSL tracks to today's 300 West)

Utah Fireclay Co. -- "Utah is now producing all kinds of refractory fireclay products, including fire brick, assay crucibles, muffles, etc. The fireclay deposits of a number of counties are of exceptional purity and of almost unlimited extent. The deposits controlled by the Utah Fireclay Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, cover several hundred acres and are located near Lehi, Utah County. The company is shipping many carloads of assayers' crucibles into Denver." (Brick magazine, December 1906, Vol. 25, No. 6, page 268)

(A crucible is a high-sided ceramic container used to melt metals, from very small quantities for testing, to large quantities prior to casting.)

(A muffle is a cover for a smelter or a kiln, used to prevent heat loss.)

"The Utah Fire Clay Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah, established a plant for the manufacture of brick in 1904, since that time it has grown to mammoth proportions. the factory alone occupying the space of ten acres. A diversity of products are turned out, consisting of common and face brick, all varieties of fire brick, fireproofing, sewer pipe, conduits, floor tile, etc. The company is managed by men of capital and experience. Recently a branch factory was established in Murray, Utah, which is now running at full capacity. The officers of the Utah Fire Clay Co., are Lawrence Green, President and General Manager; H. W. Reed, Vice-President; T. R. Ellerbeck, Secretary; L. S. Hill, Treasurer." (The Western Contractor, July 16,1913, Vol. 25, No. 653, page 36)

The following comes from the October 1923 issue of the Utah Payroll Builder magazine.

The Utah Fire Clay Company was organized and incorporated in 1904 with a capital of $200,000.00 commencing operations that year with a small plant of but two kilns and a plant site of three acres. Today the Company is a $1,000,000.00 corporation with large plants located in Salt Lake City and Murray, Utah, and Pocatello, Idaho. At present its plant sites cover 52 acres of ground necessary for storage, and buildings which have a floor space of approximately 100,000 square feet used principally for drying ware, and the operation of its 32 kilns. It has 1,790 acres of land in which there is an inexhaustible supply of silica and clay of rare quality from which is manufactured some 100 different articles, principal of which are: sewer pipe, farm drain tile, fire brick, face brick, hollow building blocks, silica brick and shapes, assayers clay crucibles, scorifiers and etc. (A scorifier is a type of low-sided crucible used to melt very small quantities of metal.)

Besides disposing of its products in the Intermountain territory, some of its wares are known nationally, shipments in large quantities being made to both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, Alaska, and Old Mexico and exports from San Francisco docks a large tonnage annually. They have an annual capacity of 26500 carloads of finished wares per year, employing some 250 men when running normally.

The plants of this company are all constructed along modern plans, all departments being housed in steam heated buildings, allowing for continuous operations every day in the year regardless of weather conditions. The Company has recently made several improvements, the most important of which was the entire electrification of its Salt Lake Plant making it one of the most up-to-date plants in the west.

This company has a daily capacity to manufacture enough face brick and tile to construct 6 five-room bungalows, enough 6" drainage tile to lay two miles of lines, enough vitrified glazed sewer pipe to lay one mile of sanitary sewer lines and in addition a large tonnage of refractory brick, tile and assayers clay goods for smelter, industrial and metallurgical work. Fifty thousand tons of clay are used annually in turning out their products and 25,000 tons of coal consumed in burning it.

The officers and directors of the company are F. N. Cameron, President, A. E. Kimball, vice-president and general manager, S. R. Waldo, secretary, J. A. Groesbeck, treasurer, W. L. Biersach, L. S. Cates, Edgar S. Hills, D. D. Moffatt, and Waldmar Van Cott.

Utah Fire Clay Company

June 4, 1904
The Utah Fire Clay company was incorporated in Salt Lake County on June 4, 1904, as successor to the Clinton-Ellerbeck company, which had been in operation at the site of a large clay deposit. "Since the beginning of smelting operations in Utah there has been a great need for good fire clay with which to manufacture fire brick, crucibles, muffles and other refractory products necessary in smelting operations. Utah has long been importing such materials from neighboring states and paying freight rates that exceed the cost of the material." Utah Fire Clay was organized to provide relief for the smelters of Utah from these "excessive freight rates by manufacturing all such clay products at home." The organizers included Dr. Will L. Ellerbeck, T.R. Ellerbeck, and J.E. Clinton. (Salt Lake Telegram, June 6, 1904)

Prior to this, the local fire clay was in demand in many nearby and distant states, in the form of dry clay shipped in sacks, for the manufacture of refractory products, which in turn were imported back to Utah. Dr. Will L. Ellerbeck had perfected the processes to use the local fire clay, and along with J. E. Clinton, had successfully manufactured the refractory products, with "many thousands of its fire brick being already in service." The local fire clay in its dry and ground form was also used in local smelters and foundries with satisfaction. (Salt Lake Telegram, June 6, 1904)

A week later, James Clinton, Thomas Ellerbeck and others conveyed six lodes of mining claims in the Lehi mining district in north Utah County, to the Utah Fire Clay company. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 14, 1904)

(These mining claims made up what became Utah Fire Clay's major source of its raw material when the clay pits here opened in 1906. They were served by a spur of UP's LA&SL Fairfield Branch, and today are located in the vicinity north of Harvest Hills Boulevard and west of State Route 85.)

September 9, 1906
"C.L. Crandall has a force of men and teams at work west of Lehi building a spur from the Mercur branch of the Salt Lake Route to the Utah Fire Clay company's clay beds. The spur will be about two miles long and will obviate the mile and one-half haul now necessary. The clay beds are the best in the State, and as soon as the spur is completed will be operated on a much larger scale." (Salt Lake Tribune, September 9, 1906)

October 17, 1906
"Our state is now producing all kinds of refractory fire clay products including fire-brick, assay crucibles, muffles, sewer pipe, etc., of the highest quality. Although this industry in Utah is young, the superiority of the products has developed an extensive market. The fire clay deposits of a number of counties are of exceptional purity and of almost unlimited extent. The deposits controlled by the Utah Fire Clay company of Salt Lake City, covering an area of hundreds of acres, are situated near Lehi, Utah county. Their works are in Salt Lake City, from which place they send their products throughout the intermountain and Pacific states and east even to New York. Assayers crucibles they are now shipping into Denver by the carload." (Salt Lake Herald, October 17, 1906)

April 11, 1907
Utah Fire Clay company was producing clay drain pipes in 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch sizes, in 1-foot and 2-foot lengths. The drain pipes were being used as field drains by farmers. Similar products were also produced by Ogden Sewer Pipe & Clay company, and Provo Pressed Brick company. (Box Elder News, April 11, 1907)

September 21, 1907
"The Utah Fire Clay works cover an area of five acres over which are scattered the various buildings for manufacturing their products. There are eight kilns and three drying rooms for sewer pipe alone. A machinery building and engine room to furnish the power for grinding clay and making brick. The kilns have a daily capacity of 10,000 fire brick and 5000 sewer pipe. In addition to sewer pipe and brick, this company also manufacture drain tile, crucibles and assayer supplies. At present they are furnishing the brick for the Judd building. They employ on the average of 60 men daily, 35 at the clay works and they operate their own mines, employing about 25 men there." (Truth newspaper, September 21, 1907)

July 29, 1910
Merger -- The following comes from the July 29, 1910 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper.

The two largest fire clay products companies in the state, or for that matter in the intermountain west, have effected merger, which means practically the control of tho output in the western field. When final details are consummated it is said that the deal will involve close to a million dollars.

From semi-official sources it is learned that the Utah Fire Clay company of this city has acquired a two-thirds interest in the Murray plant of the Western Fire Clay company, and that in the near future the two companies will be operated most likely under one management.

The Utah Fire Clay company, of which Lawrence Greene is manager, has a plant at 1098 South First West street. The Western Fire Clay company, J. A. Spiker, manager, has a plant at the present time at Third West and Eighth South streets. It is understood that in the near future, following the plans of the merger, the old plant of the latter company will he demolished and the best of the machinery will be used, where possible, in the new Murray plant.

Merger Will Control Field.

Business men familiar with the fire clay business, say the enlarged concern, or the merger, will be able to control the fire clay products field. The market is not confined to Salt Lake City, but the products are shipped to various other cities in the state and to points in Nevada, Wyoming and Idaho.

The Murray plant of the new concern, which was started by the Western Fire Clay company, will cost when completed about $150,000. It will he thoroughly modern in every particular, and the latest and most approved machinery for the making of fire clay products will be installed.

The principal product will be fire brick, though considerable attention, will be paid to the manufacture of sewer pipes and fire clay insulators for high tension wires. The manufacture of the latter product is a new undertaking in the west, and from the present heavy demand it is thought that it should prove highly remunerative to the company.

(Sanborn fire insurance map for 1911, sheet 167, shows the brick plant of the Salt Lake Pressed Brick company, including two kilns, on the northeast corner of the block at the intersection of Eighth South and Third West, with the note, "Not In Operation Since Nov. 1910, Machinery Removed." The 1898 map, sheet 35, shows the same area as "Elias Morris & Sons - Fire Brick Fac.")

January 16, 1949
"The Utah Fire Clay Co. has installed a new grinding machine and a building in which to house it at a cost of $75,000. They are concentrating on production of sewer pipe and drain tile for use in sanitary installations of growing communities throughout the area. Their raw material comes from the company's own shale properties in Summit and Utah counties." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 16, 1949)

April 4, 1961
The Utah Fire Clay Company merged with Murray Refractories Company and Gladding, McBean & Company, with Gladding, McBean being the surviving company. The shareholders meeting approving the merger took place on April 4, 1961. The clay quarries were located at Clinton, Elberta, and Five Mile Pass in Utah County, and at Rideout and Cottonwood in Salt Lake County, with trucks hauling the clay to both Salt Lake City and another location in Harrisville. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 5, 1961; Provo Daily Herald, July 18, 1962)

(The story of Utah Fire Clay in Murray continues with Murray Refractories and Gladding, McBean & Company)

July 19, 1962
Gladding, McBean & Company became International Pipe and Ceramics Corporation after merging with Lock Joint Pipe Company of East Orange, New Jersey. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 19, 1962) (The merger was approved by shareholders of both companies on August 24, 1962 - Salt Lake Tribune, August 24, 1962)

(The Murray Refractories, former Utah Fire Clay, site in Murray being dismantled after 1962.)

April 2, 1963
International Pipe and Ceramics began using the trade name "Interpace." Interpace announced that the expansion of the Harrisville face brick plant was almost complete. (Salt Lake Tribune, April 2, 1963)

December 13, 1967
Interpace announced that, within three months, it would close the former Utah Fire Clay location at 1100 South in Salt Lake City, including laying off 30 employees. The site manufactured face brick and clay pipe, and the property was to be sold. The company also announced that they were exiting the face brick market in Salt Lake City, and had shut down its face brick manufacturing at the plant in in June 1967, while keeping the employees on the payroll. The company would continue selling its line of ceramic tiles, which would be warehoused in leased space elsewhere in the city. The reason given for the changes was given the "stiff" competition. The Harrisville plant would remain open and would continue manufactuirng face brick. (Deseret News, December 13, 1967; Salt Lake Tribune, December 13, 1967)

May 15, 1968
International Pipe and Ceramics Corporation officially changed their name to Interpace Corporation, "our official and only corporate name." (Ogden Standard Examiner, May 15, 1958)

July 20, 1968
Beginning on July 20, 1968, Interpace began advertising, "Everything Goes!! Steel, brick, wooden buildings, brick kiln, pipe, steel. Will Trade. Interpace Brick Yard. 1081 South 2nd West." (Deseret News, July 20 1968 through August 18, 1968)

September 1, 1968
Beginning September 1, 1968, Interpace began advertising the sale of building materials from buildings being dismantled on the 1081 South brick yard. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 1, 1968 through September 5, 1968)

(After 1968 the former Harrisville Brick plant in Harrisville became the sole business for Interpace in Utah.)

Western Fire Clay Company

December 2, 1907
"Brick Plant Sold. - The Ashton Fire Brick & Tile company has sold out to the Western Clay Products company of this city, its plant at Third West and Eighth South streets, for $45,000." (Deseret News, December 2, 1907)

The Western Fire Clay company was incorporated on June 12, 1910 by interests in Telluride, Colorado. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 12, 1910)

June 19, 1910
"New Plant At Murray. - Western Fire Clay Company to Establish Works to Make Brick. - The Western Fire Clay company of Salt Lake, with a capital of $500,000, will shortly establish works at Murray, for the manufacture of fire clay and silica brick. The company will commence work on the new plant immediately. They have obtained an ideal piece of property in the smelter city, comprising 14 acres, and situated between Fifteenth South and Sixteenth South streets, and the Oregon Short Line and the Denver & Rio Grande railroads. Electrical power and a good water supply are obtainable on the new site at a nominal cost. According to plans there will be four separate plants erected on the property, the machinery for which is expected to arrive within sixty days. The new organization takes over the plant of the Western Clay Products company, formerly the Ashton Brick & Tile company, which had been manufacturing brick and day products for over thirty years." (Salt Lake Herald, June 19, 1910)

(Fifteenth South and Sixteenth South are today known as 3900 South and 4500 South)

July 29, 1910
Western Fire Clay company and Utah Fire Clay company were merged in 1910. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 29, 1910)

The Western Fire Clay Company name disappeared from newspapers as being in the fire clay business by 1913, except for several references noting that the company had purchased several mining claims 1913 and 1914. The claims were for its expanding array of clay pits as the source for fire clay for fire bricks, and were located in Manning and Pelican Point, west of Utah Lake.

Ashton Brick & Tile Company

(Salt Lake City, 1902-1907)

(Not to be confused with Ashton Fire Brick & Tile in Ogden, 1915-1938; owned by Salt Lake Pressed Brick interests)

Salt Lake City -- The Ashton Brick & Tile company was originally located in Salt Lake City. Its brick plant at that location was sold to Western Fire Clay company in 1907. Western Fire Clay opened its location in Murray initially using the Ashton Brick & Tile name, but by 1910 the site was being operated by the Western Fire Clay company, and later by the Utah Fire Clay company.

Ogden -- The Ogden location of Ashton Fire Brick & Tile company was initially owned by the Leek Brick company from 1887 to 1915, and was purchased in 1915 by the Salt Lake Pressed Brick interests in the name of the Ashton Fire Brick & Tile company.

January 21, 1902
Ashton Fire Brick & Tile Company was incorporated on January 21, 1902. The place of business was to be in Salt Lake City. (Deseret News, January 21, 1902, "this morning")

February 15, 1902
"The Ashton Fire Brick & Tile company, with a capitalization of $25,000, fully paid, is one of Utah's new industrial enterprises. It is officered by E. T. Ashton, president; Geo. M. Cannon, vice president; Nephi L. Morris, secretary and treasurer; these gentlemen, together with John P. Morris and Elias C. Ashton, comprising the directorate. The company has secured nearly all of the available fire clay deposits in the state, the best of which is in the Tintic district. Tests of this clay have been made in this city, in Colorado and the east, and is said to equal the best fire clay to be found anywhere. The Messrs. Ashton recently returned from the east where they proved the value of this clay by exhaustive experiments, and have purchased the machinery for a manufacturing establishment which is to be established in this city, it being the intention of the company to begin operations by the first of April in the manufacture of assayers' supplies of almost every description. The establishment will be managed by E. C. Ashton." (Salt Lake Mining Review, February 15, 1902)

(See Western Fire Clay Company, above)

December 1909
The Ashton Fire Brick & Tile was shown as delinquent on their property taxes, for the north half of Block 8, which is the southwest corner of the intersection of Eighth South and Third West. (Salt Lake Herald, December 6, 1909)

(Sanborn fire insurance map for 1911, sheet 167, shows this site as the brick plant of the Salt Lake Pressed Brick company, including two kilns, with the note, "Not In Operation Since Nov. 1910, Machinery Removed." The 1898 map, sheet 35, shows the same area as "Elias Morris & Sons - Fire Brick Fac.")

(Research suggests that the assets and property of Ashton company were split up in June 1910, part going to Utah Fire Clay company, and part going to Salt Lake Pressed Brick company. The Salt Lake City property at Eighth South and Third West was taken by the Salt Lake Pressed Brick company, but was inactive after November 1910, then sold in May 1915 to the Utah Fire Clay company. The Salt Lake Pressed Brick company kept the clay quarries of the Ashton company and purchased the Leek company in Ogden and expanded it as a renamed Ashton Fire Brick & Tile company.)

January 26, 1915
Ashton Brick & Tile company sold its clay quarry at the mouth of Parley's Canyon (sections 24 and 25) to the Salt Lake Pressed Brick company. (Salt Lake Herald, January 26, 1915)

May 13, 1915
The Utah Fire Clay Company purchased the brick making plant of the Aston Brick & Tile Company located at Eighth South and Third West. The price was reported as $30,000. T.R. Ellerbeck of the Utah Fire Clay company stated that the sale was actually a year prior but was delayed to allow the clearing of the title. The Utah Fire Clay had not use for the property at present, nor the buildings on the property, but the site had a railroad spur to the OSL, and was close to the D&RG railroad. (Salt Lake Herald, May 14, 1915, "yesterday") (The action to quiet title to the property was the subject of a suit before the Third District Court in February 1915.)

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