Bricksburg
Bergen Iron Works

Bricksburg, which was situated where modern day Lakewood is now, was experiencing a kind of rebirth in the 1870s, since the shutdown of the old Bergen Iron works. This page examines it's growth through the use of newspapers from the era, principally the New Jersey Courier.

From the New Jersey Courier, 31 May 1866:
We paid a visit to this lively village on Friday last. Found French, of the Bricksburg House, in his happiest mood with a jolly good table. Parmentier, mirthful and happy, and our friends Bradshaw and Bechtel, busy selling tape and dry goods and raking in money. "Murphy", alias Bradshaw, is building as fine a dwelling as there is in the embryo city, perfectly contented, even if we did give him a world wide reputation, under the cognomen of Murphy by mistake. Larrabee, at the depot, and D.B. Stout, are doing finely in their respective pursuits. The new steam saw mill of the Company is buzzing away, getting out lumber and all creation are after the sacred material. Several new houses are going up. Found a dominie, Rev. Mr.Mason, with whom we were much pleased. Could laugh and joke and retain his dignity as a clerical gentleman, without freezing you. Liked him much, and hope to see him often. Bricksburg is bound to rise and shine. The embankment around Lake Carasaljo has been raised several feet so as to enlarge the reservoir and power. Bricksburg has subscribed freely and showed much good taste and intelligence. The Foundry is in full blast, turning out gas and water pipes. Saw a map of B. It was an extensive one. Saw a friend of Shreve's tracks around the tract, but missed seeing him. He is on the move continually, and if you go where he is, thinking to find him, you will hear of him as being somewhere else. He is a Surveyor and civil engineer, lively and vivacious. Parmentier, is one of the Jersey "boys in blue" who put down the Rebellion. Left on a Market wagon, driven by Tom Singleton, a butcher man, for Toms River. Was pleased muchly with our visit, and profited thereby.

BERGEN IRON WORKS
or more modernly speaking Bricksburg. This is a very pleasant little town, with an intelligent population, but infested by a soulless crowd of land speculators. A goodly number of the citizens were at the depot, and as our $5 friend lifted up his stentorian lungs, waving his wand, shouted, "This way gentleman, free coach to the --- house!" "Have a hack air sir?" the people laughed. At this juncture, we put our handsome picture out of the window, and caught that chap's eye. It was amusing to see hm shoot around the corner, consoling himself with the comforting assurrance that we could not see him as he skulked behind the depot. The people of Bricksburg are an enterprising race of men, coming from the eastern states. The people have proucured an act of incorporation for a Manufacturing Company, and are now proceeding to build a very large foundry and machine shop, which will add largely to the wealth and business of this village. Had the Land Company carried out all the inducements which were held out, Brick'sburg would have had to-day about 25,000 inhabitants, instead of 800. Such is life. The citizens have built a very nice school house, a Methodist and Presbyterian Church, and the Baptists are agitating the same question of building a meeting house.

The principal merchants are Al Larrabee (a live one, too), Gladding, Polk, Bachrach, Dickinson and Hunt, Lewis, Blackman and Co., Perkins, Boughton, etc. Charlie French keeps a very nice house nearest to the depot, and Fuller and Noble lumber and coal the people. The member of the General Assembly lives here, and one of his best qualifications is in attending to his constituents and in being one of Grant's "Boys in Blue." We shall have to be careful how we speak well of this place, or The Land Agent will send us a $5 greenback, which wuld muchy startle us from our propriety, and then the Land Company would order their hired lacquacy to set up an imaginary man of straw, and bang away like an old hoarse fish peddler. So we will travel on.

Alexander Conklin has presented a silver communion service of five pieces to the Methodist Church at Bricksburg.
Rev. Mr. Ogborn preached at the Methodist Church, Toms River, Sunday night and received a collection of $21 for the aid of the M.E. Church at Bricksburg.
Lewis, Blackman, and Co. have sold their extensive business to F.M. Marston
Kelsey and Blackman have purchased the lumber yard of Fuller and Noble, at Bricksburg. A December 11th article describes their business: "Mr. B informed us that he had got through with middle men and was purchasing quite largely direct of the Manufacturers of Canadian lumber at Burlington, VT. By so doing he was saving quite largely and giving his customer the benefit thereof."
Perkins and Townsend have sold out their hardware store to a party who design to open a crockery and hardware store.
Moses Bachrach has got a splendid stock of Fall and Winter dry goods in his store
The Bricksburg Manufacturing Company are pushing their works rapidly along, and propose to have their works ready in about three months. 200 men will be emplyed at making car-wheel vices and other articles too numerous to mention. We wish Jameson and his coadjutors success, for he will earn it, and the thanks of thousands of working men.

On November 9th, 1870 we are provided with an excellent description of the works at Bricksburg:

On the first instant we paid our esteemed friend, A. Jameson, Esq., of Bricksburg, a visit. We found him full of business, and received from him the same honest cordial greeting , as of olden time. Our friend at the present time is the president and general manager of a new enterprise which he has inaugurated at Bricksburg, a few miles to the north of us. When we knew A. Jameson long years ago, we always found him the same truthful, temperate, upright and industrious man as now. Scrupulously prompt in his business he, as a matter of course, succeeded. With an energy that brooked no denial, he has worked his way up, until he has become a self made man, and the architect of his own fortune. We rejoice at his prosperity. After a cordial interchange of friendly greeting, we placed ourselves under his guidance, and we proceeded to visit his water power, formerly known as Bergen Iron Works. A large massive well built raceway has been constructed underground running from the lake to the wheelpit, where the water has a fine fall upon one of Warren's American Turbine Wheels, one of the very best wheels made. From the wheelpit an arched raceway some two hundred feet long, built of Trenton stone, carries the water to the stream, known as Metedeconk River. Over this wheel pit an office is to be built. In immediate connection with the pit, is a fine brick machine shop, two stories high, situated east and west, and in dimensions 150 feet by 50 feet. From the westerly end of the machine shop runs the brick smith shop in a northerly direction 141 feet by 40. On the east end runs a foundry at right angles north 60 feet by 60 feet, leaving a fine square between the foundry, smith, and machine shop, in which a rail track is to be laid, so as to facilitate transportation. These buildings are all connected intimately with each other. They are well built, of the best material, and in a workmanlike manner. The brickwork is being done by Mr. Wainwright of Farmingdale, and the woodwork by Mr. Perkins, of Bricksburg. (NOTE: Later, on November 22nd, 1870 the paper will correct this statement, that Mr. Jameson informed them that the Master Builder was actually Mr. G.W. Fox, of Bricksburg The buildings themselves are very finely proportioned and a credit to the energy and sagacity of Mr. Jameson. They propose to manufacture a general iron and machine business as they may find advantageous, for instance, anvils, vices, car wheels, general hardware, and anything that turns up with money in it. They also propose to let out power to smaller operators on favorable terms. The Company has a very liberal charter, have fixed their capital at $200,000 and taken up three fourths of it, which Mr. J. thinks will be ample to meet their needs. The Manufacturing Company have also by means of driving piles along the banks of the lake, and raising an additional two feet emabankment, secured a much larger reservoir and more power at their command. They have also purchased the tract of land on the hill between the two ponds and lakds, and have erected some very nice, neat and handsome houses, which reflect credit on the general manager. This hill sectin between the lakes is destined to become one of the most attractive sites for buildings about Bricksburg. These houses and lots will be sold at very reasonable figures and a reasonable credit. To connect the shops with the S.N.J. R.R., a spur and turntable has been built, by which cars can be loaded or unloaded right in the shops, and then sent off. This will save much heavy lifting, teaming, etc. In short, heavy work will be made comparitively easy and a bagatelle. This Company are working out a new era for Bricksburg. They mean business, and are in right down earnest, and what they are doing, they are doing well. Success to them.

An interesting note....elsewhere on this site I feature another town beginning it's industiral endeavour about the same time as Bricksburg; unfortunately for Hermann City, within three years the glass works that began with such promise would have failed.

• A new road has been put under contract by the Land Company, who are striving to convince people , that they are 'still alive.' This road winds around the shores of teh 'great' Carasaljo Lake, most of the smaller ones having been vacated by the drought and the earnest efforts of our amiable $5 friend. It is also designed to connect it with "The Park".
• The new Presbyterian Church is a thing of beauty, as a general thing, although we think it's architectural appearance could be improved slightly.
• We understand that the old foundry, where our lovable friend Brick used to make iron and pipe, has acommplished it's mission or nearly so, and to use his own words, now, "stands like a pillar in some vast desert plain." In other words, it's removal is contemplated to a site some distance north of the depot, where the present illustrious proprietor, with others, intends to erect new works and to improve upon the quality of his manufactures.
• The Land Company have located "that Park", and set apart 15 acres for that purpose, west of Madison Avenue, and also reserved 30 acres more, for a rise, or until our $5 friend wants a choice building lot. "That Park" has travelled a good bit, and a good many have bit at the idea, thaty they were building a choice lot fronting That Park, and woke up occasionally to see other parties building on "That Park," and it has now flitted away again.
• A. Jameson, Esq. has purchased another water power, a mile and a half below the Manufacturing Company. He will build a city while the Rip Van Winkles of The Land Company are getting their eyes open.

• Rev. Mr. Graw, of Long Branch, visited Bricksburg a few days since and lectured on Temperance, and formed a Lodge of Good Templars, with about 35 or 40 members. A list of those members appeared the following week: they are:
  • M. Bunker
  • Mrs. Emma Patterson
  • Mrs. Jones
  • J. Tushingham
  • Miss Huntley
  • G.B. Stratton
  • Jas. Patterson
  • Henry Hoft
  • Miss Rich
  • Miss Bunker
  Clearly not a complete list, as both article mention between 30 and 40 members.
• The Bricksburg Bakery under the management of F.M. Marston and S. Lewis, has gained a widespread popularity.
• A.S. Larrabee, has been making recent changes in his buildings and they now cover nearly half an acre of ground, for the transaction of his country merchandising business. Later, in the Dec 11th issue of the Courier, a description of his store is offered: "We went in the front door, and on the right was arrayed a stock of drugs and such like, on the left the counters and shelves fairly groaned beneath the weight of Dry Goods and Domestics. We passed on , into another room, and we found Boots and Shoes in abundance, into another room, Groceries, net, twine, still another, flour, still another room, and we found hair, cement, and building materials. Finally we got out the doors, but how we couldn't tell, we found Squankum Marl and Lime in abundance. Then we went into Al's cellar, and in addition to his groceries, we saw a huge pile of oars, which he very quaintly informed us were for the Bricksburg Navy."
• Moses Bachrach is now opening a very fine stock of Winter goods for the ladies. Moses is an honest man, studies to please, and succeeds most admirably.
• H.F. Farnsworth is something of a Yankee. New England Grocery, Mica roofing, newspapers, etc., etc. all to be had at a very reasonable rate.
• Dickinson and Hunt carry on a very fine country store, Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Glassware, and the Post Office.
• Our friend Nathan Polk still flies his banner, and ready to dispense drugs, medicines, fancy goods, etc. in his most bland and accomplished manner.

Our friend, Charles H. Applegate of Bennett's Mills, has been chosen Secretary and Treasurer of the Bricksburg Manufacturing Company and enters upon his duties this week. Mr. Applegate adds $10,000 to his already large subscription to the stock of this company.

Benjamin Snyder has just moved into his new house corner of 1st and Madison Avenue. It is a very fine looking establishment.

Mr. B. Sinclair met with an accident on Wednesday morning last, on the new machine shop. It threatened to be quite serious for a time, but has resulted thus far in nothing of a complicated nature.

Indeed, Bricksburg was a bustling community by the end of 1870--and though the Courier was mostly full of praise regarding the village, it did have the following criticism to make:

The conduct of many young men who congregate in and around the railroad depot evenings, smoking and indulging in coarse conversation, is, to draw it mildly, very reprehensible and should be abated forthwith.

Still, overall the town was growing rapidly--William Estell was running a daily stage to Point Pleasant; the Ocean Lodge No. 89, Free and Accepted Masons, met there to elect officers; they had their own Library Association and in December 1870 were finishing up their school house. Robert Estell, Esq. was finishing his new house on Main Street, and merchants like Dickerson and Hunt were reportedly drawing "large crowds of people." In fact, shops were "beginning to assume generous proportions"; W.L. Boughton, merchant tailor, thrived opposite the Brick House; Clark and Co. took over a store recently vacated by Asa W. Gladding and Co. and stocked it with general country merchandise; Calkins and Brooks ran a successful nursery. All in all, Bricksburg was beginning to flourish.

Work has been resumed on the Manufacturing Companys' buildings. The roofs have been slated and the process of finishing goes on.

The Presbyterian Church was getting a new bell, weighing over 1000 lbs.. The village even had its own band, called the Wiser Cornet Band, consisting of:

The Co-Operative Manufacturing Company, having leased the sawmill and the water power, took ground possession on January 2nd.

Another accident occurred about the same time:

William Messler, a young man employed in the mill, was caught in a belt and thrown with great violence through an aperture in the floor or partition, causing a fracture of one arm and a dislocated shoulder, with severe bodily injuries. Dr. Chase was sent for immediately, but being engaged with Dr. Gordon in the amputation of Mr. Hoft's son some delay occurred before he could attend to Mr. Messler. The case received the earliest possible attention, however, and the injured man is doing well and likely to recover.

Injuries were not the only poor luck to befall Bricksburg that week; at 7 o'clock the previous Saturday, a fire was discovered in the basement of Mr. Turner's stove and tin ware store. It was spotted by Mr. Underhill, a workman in the business, who arrived just as it was starting and sounded an alarm. Fortunately, the damage was minimal due to Mr. Underhill's timely arrival.

While 1870-71 was a very newsworthy year for Bricksburg, by mid-decade the excitement had died down and news items from that part of the county became increasingly rare. In NJC from June 10, 1875 it does mention a "Mr. Jones of Bricksburg", who went to the Tuckerton Sunday schools, apparently to organize an excursion for the students to Long Branch the following month. One of the only other news items to come out of Bricksburg in 1875 was a marriage announcement--on 21 July, Clara W. Phifer of Bricksburg married Theodore M. Nichuals of Camden.

In 1876 there are a few more mentions of the citizens of Bricksburg; on February 17th it was mentioned that Al Larrabee was grading the area around his store, and that the Land Company was doing likewise to Main Street. On March 30th, it is announced that S.F. Blackman was elected chairman at the school meeting, and that A.L. Kelly gave an exhibition of "oxy-hydro-calcium light" on canvas, of 100 select views of Bible history(no, I don't know what that's supposed to mean.)

Still, although the building frenzy of 1870-71 had died down, Bricksburg was still a busy little community throughout the decade. Apparently a sort of religious revival was occurring, in all three of Bricksburg's churches (Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian). In early 1876, the Methodist church boasted it had received some 70 new converts, while the Baptists could only claim 10. Even the Temperance movement, the Good Templars, was still active and growing---by April they had over 70 members. In February it was also mentioned that Smith and Garvin were running their shop on nine hours time; but R.A. Brick and Co. had apparently stopped doing business for the winter and were expected to resume in March. (In actuality they did not open until April 17th).

By spring, more improvements were being done to area businesses--Sherman Kelsey and Rev E.Dickinson put new roofs and shingles onto their Main Street buildings. Smith and Garvin were working ten hours a day by then.

But as with earlier years, the growth and prosperity of Bricksburg was not without incident--on April 25th, 1876 fire struck again, this time destroying an entire house on the corner of Clifton Avenue and Fourth Street; fortunately the family that had occupied it had moved out two weeks prior. It was believed at the time that the building was owned by Mrs. Reed of Toms River. For more on the history of the Iron Furnace at Bricksburg, click here.

This page was last updated on Oc 12th, 2008.