Brick and concrete businesses in LuverneThe following appeared in the Rose History printed in 1911:Another firmly established Luverne enterprise is the Luverne Brick & Tile Company, an industry which gives employment to more than 30 men the entire year. The founder of this institution, which has had an existence of 13 years, was R.B. Hinkly. On the advice of experts in clay analysis who examined the soil on Mr. Hinkly’s farm and pronounced it to be the very best for brickmaking purposes, that gentleman at once established a plant, small at first, to utilize the resources. In the course of a few years it was found necessary to increase the facilities, and the industry was placed on a firm footing. The Luverne Brick & Tile Company as a corporation began its existence in 1907. In the same year was built the present plant, a four-story structure, which, with the several additions and other buildings subsequently erected, covers a plot of ground 80x100 feet in extent. The company manufactures brick and hollow terracotta building blocks and all sizes of drain tile and has equipment for this purpose unexcelled by any similar institution in the state. The present officers of the concern are R.B. Hinkly, president; John Connell, secretary; and B.S. Hinkly, superintendent. Luverne is the home of two brick manufactories. A company of local capitalists was formed and incorporated in 1907 as the Luverne Pressed Brick Company, which established a thoroughly up-to-date plant for the manufacture of sand and lime products. The factory is located on an extension of the Omaha railroad tracks near a large gravel pit of inexhaustible supply. The facilities for manufacturing are modern, and the plant is capable of an output of 20,000 brick per day. Luverne pressed brick has won wide favor through its excellence and is being used in the construction of many of the best buildings in this section of the state. C.W. Sheriff is the superintendent of the plant. The present officers of Luverne Pressed Brick Company are E.A. Brown, president,; S.B. Nelson, vice president; W.E.E. Greene, secretary; and A.D. LaDue treasurer. The Luverne Concrete Company, manufacturer of building blocks, drainage tile, curbing and other cement products, was organized in April 1910, with the following officers and board of directors; L.E. Coss, president; C.L. Sherman, vice president; C.J. Martin, secretary and treasurer; E.R. Coss, C.H. Peterson, H.E. Cornish and S.A. Coss. The success of the enterprise was guaranteed from its birth. The manufacturing plant, the largest of its kind in southwestern Minnesota, extends over nine acres of land, has excellent facilities for shipping, and is equipped with modern machinery. The main building has a floor space of 12,000 square feet. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
