August 2023
Argyle Brick & Block Museum. The grand opening on July 15 of the Argyle Brick and Block Museum revved up new interest in the history of the industry. Through an extensive display of professionally laid out exhibits, the Argyle Museum documents the history of around 200 brick-making plants that once operated in Manitoba.
A glimpse of displays at the Argyle Brick & Block Museum, Photo credit: Ina Bramadat
Unfortunately, information and samples from the Carman area brick works remain sparse. This is an area of local heritage in which we have been trying for years to untangle the written accounts and to obtain bricks with local markings. On a recent visit to Carman, Argyle Museum President & CEO Shayne Campbell went door to door asking owners of brick homes if they had any loose samples of bricks from their dwelling. Those that turned up had no markings. The puzzle continues. The Argyle Museum hopes to access technical equipment at the University of Manitoba to analyze samples and perhaps provide greater insight into the makeup and source of the material.
So, back to our Kennedy Burial Site for a postscript to the story. On a recent visit to the site, we noticed a brick lying on the riverbank. Could it be an elusive Carman brick? Mortar obscured the face, so we took it home, soaked, chipped, and sanded until letters began faintly to appear. – “L” “E” “A”… it was a Leary brick. The search goes on.