Merrimacport, Massachusetts: The Mystery Behind a Group of 19th Century Bricks Found Near the Merrimac River

Through my investigations at the Pecker and Chase Potteries (Ca. 1790-1880s) in Merrimacport, Massachusetts - I have found a significant amount of unmarked bricks with a darker than usual clay color. What I mean by darker than usual clay color - is that these bricks do not conform with what we envision the color of a brick to be today. They don't match up with the color of a brick house or a brick fireplace. These bricks are a lot darker in color.

The bricks basically line the shore of the Merrimac River in many areas, where I believe the Pecker and Chase Potteries operated. It is my belief that Pecker was a red earthenware potter, a stoneware potter - and yes, even possibly a brickmaker. I have seen a large collection of bricks in the same area where I have found many examples of Pecker's work that include wonderful examples of stoneware and his expected red earthenware output.

I really believe that Pecker was involved with this large of a production. I do not believe the Chase Pottery (Ca. 1820-1880s) was involved with any sort of stoneware production, but there is a strong chance the business was manufacturing bricks as well as red earthenware.

This here is an 1884 map of Merrimacport, which shows at least one brick structure that is a kiln in the backyard of W. Chase. These is no indication what the kiln was intended for. It is my understanding that the red earthenware production was done by Richard Chase in the 1880s on a completely different piece of property. The simple question; what was this kiln used for comes to mind?

1884 Map of Merrimacport, Mass

The Brick Structure in the Backyard of W. Chase is Likely a Kiln

The reason for this discussion is due to the fact that my nephew, Jason and I were in Merrimacport a few weeks ago in search of any sherds that may lay on the shores of the Merrimac River. Unfortunately, it was high tide - so there was no shore. The brackish-type water covered everything except for the steep embankment that led up to the road and the homes that make up the village of Merrimacport.

I knew it was high tide since I actively check water levels before I take on an adventure like this - but since Jason wanted to go - I figured I'd check it out. He happened to have had his swimming trunks on - so he ran to my Jeep to retrieve his swimming goggles that he had brought. I asked him why - he said, "...I'm going to go swimming and see what's out there." The area that he went swimming is normally a shore that can be walked on at low tide. Incredibly, he did find a few pieces of what I perceive to be Pecker-type stoneware.

 My Nephew, Jason Swimming for Sherds in Merrimacport, Mass

 My Nephew, Jason Swimming for Sherds in Merrimacport, Mass

My Nephew, Jason Swimming for Sherds in Merrimacport, Mass

On our way down to the river, I noticed oddly formed bricks all over the place. They did not appear like kiln bricks - and most didn't look like they could be used for a structure. They were not flat either - they all appeared to have some kind of deformity. I assumed these bricks were possibly wasters or even intended for another purpose.

Now I adamant that these are nineteenth-century bricks. They appear different than the mass-produced bricks I often see on rivers elsewhere in New England. These are without a doubt earlier. At the moment, I have no real way to identify these bricks with either the Pecker or Chase Potteries, but I am confident they were the product of one. It's even possible that both businesses were manufacturing bricks. After all, Merrimacport was centrally located between Haverhill and Newburyport, Massachusetts - two cities that have an abundance of brick structures today. Much of Haverhill was built up through bricks during the Industrial Period - so there may have been a demand from Merrimacport's business. There are also a few brick homes in Merrimacport. Some of these homes were built when the Chase Pottery was in business - and these homes would have neighborhood the Chase Pottery when it was very active. These structures can be seen on the map above in red.

While I have no proof of it - I am curious to know if in-fact the Chase Pottery was in a position to supply such an amount of bricks to places like Haverhill and homes in Merrimacport. The idea of these bricks kind of fascinates me. The bricks were scattered everywhere, but they appeared unusable. It was rather interesting to see!

This here is one of those bricks I am referring to pictured with a traditional New England Brick Company example. You can clearly see the differences in form - notice the odd form of the brick found in Merrimacport.

 Traditional New England Brick Company On the Top
Ca. Late 19th or Early 20th Century

One of the Many Bricks Found in Merrimacport, Ma on the Bottom
Possibly Ca. Early to Mid 19th Century

 Notice the Irregular Form Seen With the Merrimacport, Ma Found Brick
This Is How All the Bricks in Merrimacport, Ma Appeared That I Saw

Another View of Both Bricks

New England Brick Company On the Top

Merrimacport, Ma Brick On the Bottom

Later this week, I am going to begin a study of some red earthenware artifacts that I recently studied from eighteenth-century archaeological contexts in New York City. The New York State Museum in Albany has given me permission to publish some of these examples - so you can look forward to that.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...