By Kevin V. Hunt
Blog #20
Greetings to you all! I am pleased to preent this new blog to you, I have entitled this “Nauvoo Homes, Bricks, and the Legacy of Elder EH Belcher”.
This blog has been a long time coming – and it has come with much research and effort. The book talks of brick making in Old Nauvoo. There were about 2,000 homes built by the Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo between 1839 and 1846. This presentation talks of log homes, wood frame homes and of course the beautiful Nauvoo red brick homes. There were about 350 brick homes by the time that the Saints left Nauvoo beginning in 1846.
Elder Belcher (the father of my wife, Lou Dene) and his wife, Grandma Verna – were here in Nauvoo on a mission from 1979 to 1981. They served their entire two and a half years in the Lucy Mack Smith home as site guides. And with time on his hands, Elder Belcher researched and created the Nauvoo brick yard. And he created the now famous Nauvoo Brick that is taken by most visitors who come to Nauvoo.
This presentation details his efforts to create the Nauvoo Brickyard and the Nauvoo brick – that our guests still take home – and enjoy 45 years after Elder Belcher created it. It has become an iconic symbol linking the pioneers of by-gone times to us in the current age. Nearly everyone who comes to Nauvoo wants to have one of the special Nauvoo bricks as a memory of the Spirit and testimony (the power of the Holy Ghost) as they experience “this holy ground” that is so special.
This presentation reflects the history of all of the above.
I am sending you two different ways to open the file. One is a PDF file and the other is a PowerPoint Presentation.
Here are the two links. First, the link to the PowerPoint presentation:
AAA BRICK MAKING AND BELCHER LEGACY MA
(Click on the link … then when it appears – double clink to open) It will take a minute to open. It is a big file.
When it opens, scroll down (or up) with the arrow keys) to view the entire presentation.
For the PDF version, Try this link: (And you will likely have to copy and paste it into your browser)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptK9bPHPWPRJM6AD65IKDZEdPY05cXbM/view?usp=drive_link
Creation of this presentation came only after very extensive research and persistence in the search. I learned that there was very little material available for brick making in the 1840’s … but many of the processes have been used for many generations – and thousands of years.
Within a few days, I will create and publish the presentation as a new book on lulu.com. I will let you know when this happens. Meanwhile, enjoy the free copies!
On the trail of the Nauvoo Brick … Elder Kevin Hunt
On the Nauvoo Trail 