Brick plant has been part of Kanopolis for five decades

By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

A stack of safety awards sits atop the front office counter at the Acme Brick Company in Kanopolis. Even since 2008, when operations were put on a temporary hiatus, they’ve been mailed to the plant from headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility’s last employee, Allen Shultis, hasn’t suffered any injuries, so the awards keep coming. There are more stashed in his pickup truck.

Outside, a stack of bricks — too few with which to build much of anything — are the only obvious evidence of what was made here. They will likely be returned to their source: the clay pits, which will eventually be filled in.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/