In 1884, the old woolen mill building was purchased by the Chicago and Dayton Brick Company  which would convert it into a pressed brick factory.

The fitting up for this business cost $15,000. The pressed brick factory is in the hands of a stock company; capital, $50,000. One machine has already been put in which weighs 17 tons and cost $3,500, having a capacity of 25,000 brick per day. More machines will be put in during the season, making the total capacity 100,000 per day, and giving employment to 50 men. The flood of Jan. 6 has delayed the starting of these works, which would have been in operation this week but for this occurrence. Considerable damage was done to the works by the freshet.¹

The old woolen mill property which has been run as a pressed brick factory by the Chicago and Dayton Brick Co., has been sold to an eastern firm who are putting it in shape for manufacturing purposes. We have not learned yet the intentions of the new company, but hope they have sufficient capital to do an extensive business.²

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1. The Ottawa (Illinois) Free Trader, January 17, 1885, p. 5, cols. 1-2
2. The Free Trader, June 2, 1888, p. 8, cols. 2-3.