THE UNOIONTOWN BRICKYARD IS STILL REMEMBERED

The Zion Methodist Church, near Old Appleton (seen here in 1911), was built with bricks from the Unterreiner & Kasten Brickyard. Photo courtesy of Mary Daume

The old brickyard in Uniontown was cleaned away a number of years ago. Today, only historic buildings erected from brick from the yard there, dot the countryside.

The most important building to me is the Zion Methodist Church near Old Appleton. My grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandmother Engelmann, a sister and other relatives are buried in the cemetery adjoining the church land.

According to records, 68,000 brick, made by Unterreiner & Kasten of Uniontown, were laid by Vincent Javeaux in building the church.

While plans to build the church were several years in the making, the actual planning and construction took place in the year of 1891.

On October 20, 1891, the following was entered in the church minutes: "Finally the long awaited day has come, the day which we have anticipated for such a long time. We have long felt the need for a new church. Now it stands in all it's splendor, it cost us $3090-11

The frame parsonage on the church grounds was erected in 1902. Like almost every building in the area at that time, it has brick chimneys made from Uniontown brick.

On Nov. 8, 1891, R.C. Kasten, who served his apprenticeship at the Uniontown brickyard, married Auguste Bingenheimer. The couple had four sons, Arthur, Louis, Walter, John and two daughters, Edna and Emilie.

In the year of 1895, R.C. Kasten purchased the William Oldenhoener brick business in Jackson and began to manufacture the old fashioned mud brick. In the year of 1905, Joe Schmucke entered as a partner. Press brick and farm drain tile were now manufactured.

In 1914, the officers were: R.C. Kasten, president; A.C.J. Kasten, vice president and Joe E. Schmuke, secretary-treasurer. At this time the company employed about 25 people.