Point of Interest 4 - The Brick Kiln

The local bedrock is made of a sedimentary rock called Queenston Shale. When this rock is exposed and weathered it changes to a red clay. The Queenston Shale of the Half Moon Valley has been exposed during the creation of the valley, making the ravine an excellent resource for extract clay. This clay has been used in the making of many different products, the most prevalent being bricks.

In the mid 1800’s the clay in Half Moon Valley was collected, shaped and fired in kilns (large hot ovens) to make bricks. A brick kiln was built and operated close to this location between the years of 1850 to 1874 first by Thomas Willoughby and later Edwin Brown. The bricks from this kiln were used to make the local school house and the Fred Breckon farm house whichs was located next to Spruce Lane Farmhouse.