Kramb Brick and Tile Company

KRAMB BRICK & TILE COMPANY: This article was originally written by Dr, Richard Kramb (a very proficient writer) and was in the Exponent February 1956. Dick is a retired Optometrist and lives in Oceanside, California. He has forwarded this to me and it is a valuable page out of our Oak Harbor history. He is a member of the Kramb family instrumental in the Kramb Company which once stood on the southeast corner of Water and Locust Street (present location of the BP Station).

OLD KRAMB BRICK & TILE COMPANY WAS VITAL LINK IN PROGRESSIVE OTTAWA COUNTY FARMING 50 YEARS AGO: Editor's Note: This interesting historical sketch of one of Oak Harbor's important industries of a half century ago, was written for the Exponent by Richard A. Kramb of Arcadia, Calif., son of the late Albert Kramb, founder of the Kramb Brick and Tile co., which contributed importantly in this county after the turn of the century.

Over fifty years have passed sine the beginning of one of Oak Harbor's first industries, yet there are few people in Oak Harbor who can remember the activities of "The Kramb Brick and tile Company." Located south of East Water Street, the yard was situated about a quarter of a mile from the street toward the river. The lane or road that leads back to the buildings was about one-third miles east of Maple Street, about the vicinity of the Fred Gleckler home. The company was first started in 1905 with Albert J. Kramb and William P. Kramb, as the operating engineer. The physical aspect of the plant consisted of three large kilns and great long drying sheds where the clay was processed into the finished product of tile. The kilns and the sheds are now gone and only a few scars remain where once an important link in the development of the farm area around Oak Harbor stood.

The company employed about ten men and several teams. Most of the work was done by hand and wagons or mud boats were used to haul the clay and tiles. Automation was fifty years away. Stories were told that when a kiln was to be opened there would be teams and wagons lined up hours ahead of time to get the tile. A person today, sometimes forgets that the farm land is now nearly completed tiled, but that at one time n the history of development, this was not true. During rainy spells, many acres of land would stand under water, destroying crops and bringing financial ruin to many farms, so, as tiling machines came into the economic reach of the farmer, the need for tile increased. As a source of supply the company therefore helped fill the need of the area. Then as time progresses still farther, the land became tiled and there was no longer a great need for the tile industry on the local level. As further evidence of this, there are two other tile yards where buildings are still standing but no longer producing; one at Kingsway and the other east of North Locust Street.

Some of the stories that are "Twice Told Tales" about the yard as follows: one cold winter evening the night fireman heard of cry of "help" coming from the river. He grabbed a lantern and ran to the river to find a young fellow and his girl friend thrashing about in the icy cold water, having broken through while ice skating. The night fireman rescued the two skaters and brought them back to safety.

Another story involved one of the workmen, who had sat down to have lunch under one of the earth "under cuts," an under cut was a means of digging under a bank of earth until the overhang dropped and crumbled the clay thereby lessening the amount of actual digging. Seems as he had crawled under the overhang to get out of the hot sun and of course the overhang dropped and covered him completely. The other yard men had quite a job digging him out since they could not use shovels, but had to resort to their hands and saved him just in time from suffocating.

Some of the pits from which earth was due to be used in making tile are still visible south of Water Street. Some ears ago the author remembers when the Oak Harbor Fire department would flood these pits with one or two feet of water for use as an ice skating pond in the winter time. This was particularly true during a mild winter when the river did not freeze hard enough to permit skaters on the Portage.

The yard was operated as the "Kramb Brick and Tile Company" until about 1920 when it was sold. Here the story ends this indelible mark of better farming and improved land will always be found in Ottawa County, thanks in part to the "Kramb Brick and Tile Company.' (by Dr. Richard A. Kramb)

OAK HARBOR 175th BIRTHDAY: The following are events of interest with dates important to our village. These dates researched and written by John Liske August:

Aug.01.1914 - First annual meeting of the Ottawa County League of Ohio Sportsmen held at Bredehoft's Grove. Enterprize Band provided music. Procession that evening in town.

Aug.01.1920 - John A. Fader American Legion Post 114 receives charter.

Aug.02.1977 George Bredehoft died. Known as "Old Timer" for the articles on history of the Village he wrote in the Exponent.

Aug.04/05.1894 - Fire destroys entire south side of Water Street from the railroad to Church Street. Buildings destroyed included H.H. Mylander Stave Sheds, L.D. Link Carriage and Blacksmith shops, the Portage House hotel, Dr. Heller's residence. On the north side of the same block, John Reed's house, furniture store, and a large stock of farming implements destroyed. Both Fremont & Toledo send fire engines on the W&LE to help fight the fire.

Aug.08/09.1872 - The "B.F. Ferris" makes a trip from Oak Harbor to Detroit. Fare is $1.50. The Elmore Brass Band played on the boat.

Aug.15.1882 - First Wheeling & Lake Erie train through Oak Harbor. Went from Toledo to Valley Junction in N.E. Tuscarawas County.

Aug.15.1914 - The new 3 globe downtown street lights are lighted for the first time. The single globe lights down East Water Street, privately paid for, are also lighted.

Aug.16.1885 - Adolphus Kraemer dies at age 75. Was instrumental in the development and growth of the Village of Oak Harbor.

Aug.20/25.1914 - Lincoln Chautauqua. Admission is $1.50 for all 6 days. Tent is behind the High School, set up by Russell Bordeaux and 12 helpers.

Aug.24.1879 - St. Paul Lutheran (in Village) organized. Purchases a small frame church on the corner of Ottawa & Toussaint Streets.

Aug.26.1908 - Oak Harbor Day at Cedar Point. Given by Oak Harbor business people and surrounding country. All business houses closed. Fare is 50 cents on the T.P.C.&L. with steamer "Wherle" going to Cedar Point dock. Music by Oak Harbor Band. Cars leave O.H. at 8:00 A.M. Std. Time and boat leaves Cedar Point dock at 8:00 P.M. Standard.

Aug.28.1904 - First revenue passengers cross the Toledo, Port Clinton & Lakeside Railway's Portage River bridge in Oak Harbor. A steam excursion for a baseball game in Port Clinton.

They all stood there

And watched it sink..

The angry tea party

Left none to drink.

**BURMA SHAVE**