In 1884, the old woolen mill building was purchased by the Chicago and Dayton Brick Company, a new stock company with a capital of $40,000 and headquarters in Chicago, who would convert it into a pressed brick factory. The first machine put in which weighed 17 tons and cost $3,500, with a capacity of 25,000 brick per day. More machines were added, making the total capacity 100,000 bricks per day, and giving employment to 50 men.