Leonard Brickyard

Leonard Brick Company, Delton, MI, ca. 1914

Brick Making, A History
by Florence L. Kroes (1966)
Edward Leonard
his story
William Leonard
his story
C. Leon Leonard
his story
Delton Brickyard Photos
circa 1914
Maps of Leonard Brickyards
a recreation
Leonard Family Photos
circa 1920

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Leonard Family Brickyard History

This site is an attempt to preserve a family's history. Brick making in the Leonard family dates back to the mid-1800's, beginning with Edward Leonard, who immigrated from England in 1846. The family tradition continued with his son, William, and grandsons C. Leon and George, who operated brickyards in Kalamazoo and Delton, Michigan from the late 1800's until 1923.

The photographs on this site, many of which we believe were taken by Florence Leonard with her Brownie camera, are of the brickyard in Delton which was located on the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw (CK&S, aka Cuss, Kick & Swear) railway line, on the road which is now called Brickyard Road, on the outskirts of Delton. William Leonard purchased this brickyard in 1908, having sold the brickyard he owned on the Kalamazoo-South Haven line, west of Kalamazoo in 1906. William changed the name to the Leonard Brick Company and made his sons, George and Leon, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. The brickyard shut down in 1918 while Leon and George fought in WWI. In 1919, they were back, bought out their father, and formed a partnership with E.A. Burton of Hastings, and J.D. Murdock of Delton. In 1920, they bought a Wellington steam dryer, powered by a Corlis engine, to make the yard a year-round operation. In 1923, the last bricks were made, and by 1933, all equipment was removed.The buildings were all gone by the end of the 1930's. Now, nothing remains except foundations, the brickyard pond where the clay was dug, and piles and piles of discards (bats).