DescriptionEnglishman C. C. Thurston established a brickyard at this site in 1883. One of his employees was Charles Bray, a fellow Britisher who had served an apprenticeship in brick making before leaving England. In 1885, Nicholas Kessler, a longtime Helena brewer and brick maker, bought the brickworks from Thurston and placed Bray in charge. Bray expanded manufacturing to include sewer pipes, tiles, flowerpots, and decorative bricks. By 1900, the Kessler Brick and Sewer Pipe Works was one of Montana’s leading brick and tile manufacturers. In 1905, Kessler merged with brick maker Jacob Switzer to form the Western Clay Manufacturing Company. Bray remained manager, brought sons Archie and Raymond into the business, and eventually came to own it. On his father’s death in 1931, Archie became company president. A ceramics engineer, Archie was a creative, talented man and a lover of fine art who envisioned a pottery on the brickyard grounds. With the enthusiastic help of friends, the dream came to fruition in 1951. Although Bray died in 1953, his foundation survived the 1960 closure of Western Clay and in 1984 purchased the abandoned brickyard buildings and kilns. Today the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts is internationally acclaimed. The historic Western Clay Manufacturing Company is listed in the National RegisterPersonal NamesThurston, C.C.Bray, CharlesKessler, NicholasBray, ArchieBray, RaymondOther Name(s)Kessler Brick and Sewer Pipe WorksWestern Clay Manufacturing CompanyContributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation3926 ft.CountyLewis and Clark County
