Page 120 - Demo

118An Overgrown RuinThe American Tile Co. (Interior of kiln.), West Terre Haute%u2014Vigo Co. (640.07)At one time, the Terre Haute area had a number of brick and tile factories which, over the years, went through a series of mergers and closings. I couldn%u2019t learn much about the history of the one Lynn and I visited%u2014The American Tile Co.%u2014but I know it quit producing at least several decades ago. In fact, it was so overgrown we had difficulty walking around the site. A very large complex, with two tall chimneys, it was in sad condition. There was a central heating plant, which once blew hot air through shallow underground tunnels into each kiln, where the brick or clay tile was fired. Some tunnels had collapsed, so we had to watch each step we took. The arch-shaped kilns had arch-shaped doors, and the kilns were all connected together in a long row. Some were in danger of collapsing. After American Tile was shut down, the Michigan Mushroom Co. began raising mushrooms inside the kilns, which had the perfect climate for the purpose. That%u2019s why we found wooden doors on some of the kilns%u2014they%u2019d been added later and had been fine for growing fungi, but would have burned up if bricks were being fired. Eventually, the mushroom company also closed its doors%u2014and the old factory has been at the mercy of the elements ever since.