Through a continued search on internet and elsewhere, have started correcting this article w/ new, more accurate information.
Head's Brickyard was located in Hooksett, NH, to east of Suncook Valley RR Loop Track, which ran along east bank Merrimack River. Wealthy, ex-military resident [ Col. Eugene Head ] w/ plenty of land, cash, political connections, family backing, started a thriving, seasonal [ yard shut down in cold weather; was not possible to make bricks until spring ] Brickyard business in 1836; supplying the huge Amoskeag Textile Mill Complex in Manchester, NH and many other area customers, thru the Civil War and into 20th Century, until August, 1917; when production halted. This was caused by a severe shortage of area manpower [ very likely due to the large numbers of local young men who left to fight in WW I ] . His land-holdings included very large clay deposits, along east bank of the Merrimack River. He was able to utilize river's abundent water supply in the brick-making process and built an extensive yard in the area which later became known as Head's Hill. Most outgoing early shipments were by heavy oxen or horse-drawn wagons. Later, he had SVRR spur run into the, now, mile-long yard, for huge brick rail-shipments, to as far south as Boston, MA. Brick molders used wood molds, filled with clay/ sand/ water/ colored pigment slurry; mixed in huge vats; constantly agitated to keep mix in suspension. Extensive, open-sided drying sheds, were stacked w/ new, wet bricks [ w/ each tier separated vertically] to be air-dried for several days, before firing. These were loaded , using oxen or horse-drawn skids of high, tiered wet brick stacks. Several huge, domed, refractory brick-lined kilns were on-site. Brick loads required long, high temperature [ up to 1000 degrees F. ] firing times; from two or three days to a week or more, depending on type of brick and followed by long cool-down period, before kiln could be opened, to prevent bricks from shattering, caused by sudden temperature change or bricks being hit by rain. Many other storage sheds held fired bricks,[segregated by colors ] awaiting shipment. Inspectors would check brick quality, before they were packed for shipment [saw photos of expensive bricks, packed in straw and/ or sawdust, in wood crates]. Common clay bricks were loaded on large skids, w/ each tier alternated in direction, to lock them in place more securely. Railside boxcar, flatcar, gondola loading was done, using oxen or horse-drawn skids and wagons. Loading platforms, w/ long access ramps, were on both sides of spur, so skids could be dragged thru doors, into center of boxcars, then shoved toward ends. An office structure was on-site, w/ foremen and crews of: clay diggers & haulers, sand haulers, slurry mixers, molders, stackers, [ for both wet & fired brick ] horse/ oxen teamsters, many teams of animals,[ barns, feed, grooms, harness, tack, etc. ] rail car loaders. Also, kiln tenders, brick inspectors, carpenters, millwrights, wheelwrights, machinists, blacksmiths, plumbers, brickmasons, to build/ repair kilns and any other workmen needed. Huge supplies of tinder, firewood, charcoal, pumped water, [ probably into huge, elevated storage tanks ] and dozens of other supplies were also a daily neccessity. Maybe some workers lived in on-site bunkhouses and had to be fed daily, via chowline, w/ large latrine facilities definitely needed , available and, maybe, showers.
If you model in later era: Simply modernize the equipment [ forklifts, bucket loaders, large and small trucks, floodlights for night work, several large, covered buildings [ so brickmaking could be almost year-round ], propane-fired indoor drying rooms, modern firing kilns, diesel or gas-powered water pumps, automatic brick molding machines, conveyer belts, hardhats on workers, etc.
Seeking any bona-fide information others may possess, on the early brickmaking process/ day-to-day site operation, to make this article as accurate as possible. THANK YOU in advance for any assistance.....papasmurf