Author Archives: Walt Brickman, Editor, The Bricklyn Eagle

Two Bricklynites holding banner that says: "Pause Data Centers?"

Does a Moratorium on Data Centers Make Sense for Bricklyn?

➤ Note from the Editor: We have invited Professor Emerita Lisa Plater Larsen to provide her thoughts on the data center moratorium resolution soon to be considered by the Bricklyn Federal Council. See our prior reporting on the proposed resolution.

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

December 1, 2025
by Lisa Plater Larsen

A Lego figurine of a woman with gray hair and glasses, sitting at a desk, writing on a notepad. Next to her is a book titled 'Does Bricklyn Still Need a Mayor-King?'
Credit: Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from GPT-4o AI.

Lisa Plater Larsen is Professor Emerita of Political Science at Bricklyn University.

She is the author of Does Bricklyn Still Need a Mayor-King? (2025) and The Role of the League of Inland Cities in Shaping Trade Policy (2022). Both books are available from The Bricklyn University Press.

The Bricklyn Federal Council has been asked to enact a two-year moratorium on the approval of any new data center. Does such a pause make sense? — or is it simply a tactic being used by those who stand in the way of economic development or fear the spread of artificial intelligence technology?

Data centers present both opportunities and challenges for Bricklyn. They could meet the growing needs and opportunities of our realm’s businesses, with resulting economic benefits. Yet they would also need copious amounts of energy to operate (with resulting environmental impacts), as well as large tracts of land for the massive structures they require. Data centers have the potential to alter the character of our neighborhoods, as well as our treasured open spaces.  

An aerial view of a large data center building surrounded by open land, with sunset lighting creating a warm glow in the background.
The Google Data Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in aerial photo taken on Feb. 18, 2017. The facility has since been expanded and is over 2.9 million square feet in size. It is staffed by 130 employees.
 Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Data centers have also undergone changes in recent years, becoming larger and more focused on handling the boom in demand for artificial intelligence. As Microsoft has recently noted, “we have introduced a wave of purpose-built data centers and infrastructure investments we are making around the world to support the global adoption of cutting-edge AI workloads and cloud services.” See the photo below from the Microsoft post just linked to.

Aerial view of Microsoft's new AI datacenter campus in Mt Pleasant, Wisconsin, showcasing large buildings and numerous cooling units.
Mr. Burns & Waylon Smithers in nuclear power plant control room.
Photo of Waylon J. Smithers (left) and C. Montgomery Burns (right) in control room of Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Along with David Plater Broffman, CEO of Dunk Them Donuts, they reached a secret agreement with Bricklyn Mayor-King Spiro Brickburger to construct a nuclear power plant in Bricklyn. Photo obtained by The Bricklyn Eagle; and developed with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

The surfacing last year of a “secret” 2019 nuclear agreement — a document that tied the relocation of the Simpson family and friends to the construction of Bricklyn’s first nuclear power plant at the Fairgrounds and Riverside Park — has also understandably left many Bricklynites shaken
— not simply because the plant would have been located along a valued recreational stretch of the Brickooski River, but because so few in Bricklyn knew such a commitment had ever been made.

When government action touches our community in such a significant way, transparency is not optional, it is essential.

It is against this backdrop that the debate here in Bricklyn over a temporary moratorium on large-scale data center development has emerged. Though the two issues — nuclear power plants and data centers — differ in substance, they share a common thread: the need for thoughtful, fact-based policies that will better guide and inform decision-making.

Two Lego figures holding a sign that reads 'PAUSE DATA CENTERS?' in a grassy field.

A moratorium is not, as some suggest, a declaration of hostility toward the business community or toward progress. It is a pause — a civic deep breath you might call it — that will give the Federal Council the time to consider fundamental questions such as:

What energy sources and infrastructure would be required to support data centers, and who would pay for it?

What performance standards would best ensure that a new data center does not have adverse impacts on the environment or on nearby neighborhoods?

How would data centers relate to the realm’s long-term goals for the use of industrial parcels?

Would it be desirable, or even possible, to co-locate a new data center with a new nuclear power plant?

… and perhaps the most challenging question:

A lively office scene featuring LEGO characters at work, with two characters holding coffee cups, one character engaging with a computer, and a doughnut on the table.
ChatGPT’s offices in Bricklyn. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

Do we desire to impose any limitations on the use of artificial intelligence technologies — and what impacts would such limitations have?

A short-term moratorium can provide us with the opportunity to focus on these and other questions, and allow the Federal Council to develop policies based on sound information and input from all interested Bricklynites.

Yes, a moratorium will result in delay. But it will be a pause that gives us the chance to refresh how we deal with controversial new technologies — foremost among them artificial intelligence — before making commitments we may long regret. ✥

A colorful cartoon-style illustration depicting the head of an eagle made from building blocks, with a blue background and various colored circular pieces underneath.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: Hello, Walt — couldn’t agree more that important questions need to be investigated and answered before the building of a gynormous modern day power plant.  I grew up in a place and lived as a young adult in a place filled with chemical and other factories.  One day, the stench was so bad that we called the plant most likely to be the culprit and asked what the hell were they making there.  Rates of cancer in industrial hubs were unacceptably high. 

Yes, jobs did disappear as many factories went elsewhere, but I don’t think government made much of an effort to be of service.  So …. go slow with these modern day power monoliths and study the impact they will have on humans, the environment, sound levels, etc.  As detailed in the article, questions about impact abound and must be explored as well as others that may arise as the studies continue. — Pat D., Burlington, VT.

To the Editor: Professor Larsen appears to want to leave Bricklyn in the dust, falling far behind other Inland communities in advancing artificial intelligence. Given the pace of developments with this technology, a delay of two years while Bricklyn officials try to sort things out is really the equivalent of what two decades used to be. Let’s get a data center built and then learn as we go. — Kevin B. Campbell, Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: I have a message for Bricklyn elected officials that many Bricklynites share: WE DON’T WANT A GIANT DATA CENTER AND WE DON’T WANT ANY MORE AI !! — Ellen B. Richardson, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

To the Editor: Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are going to have a profound and transformative impact on our country and the entire world. The question is not whether these technologies will advance. They will. The question is: Who will control this technology? Who will benefit from it? And who will be left behind?

Let me be clear: If we do not act, AI, automation and robotics could be devastating for the working class. Last month, I released a report showing that these technologies could replace nearly 100 million jobs in America over the next decade . …

Here is the bottom line: AI and robotics are revolutionary and transformative technologies. They must benefit all of us, not just a handful of billionaires. We do not simply need a more “efficient” society — we need a more just, humane and democratic society where people live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. — U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Burlington, VT.
— Above comments excerpted from email received by Outland Liaison to Bricklyn, Wayne Senville, from Senator Sanders.

Bricklyn Federal Council member Bob Senbrick

Federal Council Member Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

November 28, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Reporter and Paul B. Macro, Business & Economics Reporter

The simmering debate over new data centers in Bricklyn heated up this week when Bob Senbrick, a senior member of the Bricklyn Federal Council, announced that at the December 15th Council meeting he will introduce a resolution calling for a two-year moratorium on the construction of any new data centers within the Realm of Bricklyn.

Senbrick’s resolution cites concerns about “highly energy-intensive facilities capable of placing substantial and sustained demands on electric transmission and distribution systems,” and urges the Realm to conduct a comprehensive study before permitting new facilities.

A Lego figure sitting at a desk holding a newspaper titled 'DATA CENTER RESOLUTION', surrounded by books and a small potted plant.
Federal Council member Bob Senbrick. Credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assist from Dall E3 AI.

“Why a Two-Year Pause?” — Councilor Senbrick Responds

Reached in his office, Senbrick explained his reasoning: “Data centers are arriving much faster than our transmission upgrades, our water resource planning, and our municipal regulations. A two-year pause will give us the time we need to do this right, with sound planning.”

When asked whether the resolution was anti-technology, Senbrick replied: “I’m not anti-technology, and I’m not against innovation. What’s more, the resolution does not seek to block the use of artificial intelligence. What the resolution does aim to do is ensure that our digital infrastructure remain strong, sustainable, and powered responsibly. If we don’t set clear standards now — on energy consumption, cooling methods, noise, and sensible siting of these huge data centers — we risk long-term problems that can’t easily be undone.

KCUR Headline on data center moratorium
Screenshot from KCUR web site.

“We won’t be the first community to adopt a moratorium on the permitting of data centers,” Senbrick added, noting that “it’s a step that several U.S. cities and counties have taken, including St. Charles, Missouri, LaGrange, Georgia, and Johnson County, Iowa, among others.”

Bricklyn Business Community Raises Red Flags

The Bricklyn Eagle spoke with Tom Brickorti, Director of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, who expressed concern over the proposed moratorium.

Tom Brickorti of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce
Tom Brickorti. From Bricklyn Eagle archives.

“We appreciate Bob Senbrick’s long-time role on the Federal Council, but the message he’ll be sending to the business community with this moratorium will have a chilling impact on economic growth and on our reputation as a place where businesses can thrive.” 

Brickorti added that “businesses want predictability, not uncertainty — and uncertainty is exactly what adoption of this resolution will create.”

While Brickorti acknowledged that data centers do bring “legitimate infrastructure questions,” he emphasized that “those concerns can be handled through our existing zoning provisions and utility regulation procedures.” What’s more, Brickorti noted, “a new data center will likely generate as many as 90 permanent jobs, not to mention many more to construct the facility.”

Dunk Them Donuts Reinforces Chamber of Commerce Warnings

Broffman in front of his Ferrari 250 GTO
David Tiler Broffman. Credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assist from Dall E3 AI.

David Tiler Broffman, CEO of Dunk Them Donuts, Bricklyn’s largest private employer, added his voice to those opposing the data center moratorium:

“This moratorium could seriously undermine expansion plans our company has been actively considering. Without state-of-the-art data infrastructure, Dunk Them Donuts and other Bricklyn businesses will be operating at a significant competitive disadvantage. “

Broffman continued: “As everyone knows, Dunk Them Donuts has deep roots in Bricklyn. But — and I hate to say this — if we can’t operate efficiently here, we may be forced to grow our business in another Inland realm. I hope policymakers understand what’s at stake.”

A colorful Lego figurine with brown, curly hair wearing a vibrant outfit stands next to a small black and white dog, set against a scenic mountain landscape.
Jenny Brickdeur with her dog Suzi in the South Bricklyn highlands, near the Vermont border. Credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assist from Dall E3 AI.

Environmental Leader Backs Proposal

The Bricklyn Eagle also spoke with Jenny Brickdeur, Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance (BEA), who offered strong support for Senbrick’s resolution. She told us that “BEA’s more than 300 members — who include many small business owners — have deep concerns about the possible construction of data centers in Bricklyn.”

“Data centers are are not harmless little computer buildings,” Brickdeur said, noting that “they generate massive energy needs out-of-scale with anything we’ve previously dealt with in Bricklyn.

A colorful, Lego-inspired depiction of a data center complex featuring two tall buildings and cooling towers, situated by a body of water with greenery and flowers in the foreground.
This GPT-4o AI generated rendering shows possible co-location of a data center and a nuclear power plant along the Brickooski River. Will structures like these be built in Bricklyn?

“Through their huge energy consumption,” she added, “they often trigger the need for major new energy supply sources, including nuclear generating plants. The U.S. Department of Energy has said that ‘nuclear has the potential to be a great partner for the data centers of today and tomorrow.’ … ” Does that mean we’ll also need to build a nuclear power plant in Bricklyn? Right now, we simply don’t know.

“In the absence of careful planning,” noted Brickdeur, “a new data center in Bricklyn might well jeopardize our realm’s efforts to develop a sustainable energy future.”

Brickdeur continued: “before we allow any of these facilities in Bricklyn, we need to have in place standards to ensure they are as energy efficient as possible, so we don’t end up — though their demands on Bricklyn Power & Light for capacity upgrades — sharply increasing the energy costs passed along to ratepayers, including small businesses and residents.

“In Outland communities,” she noted, “these concerns have been growing.” She shared a recent example from Maryland.

Asked about the fear raised by several business leaders that the moratorium will stifle economic growth, Brickdeur responded by saying that: “This isn’t about shutting down growth. It’s about making sure that if a data center is built, it doesn’t undermine Bricklyn’s commitment to a sustainable energy future, one of the real keys to having a strong economy.”

Next Up: 

Councilor Bob Senbrick plans to introduce Resolution No. 25-73, which calls for a two-year moratorium on the construction of any new data center in Bricklyn, at the Federal Council’s December 15th meeting. Observers expect the meeting to kick off a spirited debate. ✥

The Bricklyn Eagle has published the full text of proposed Resolution No. 25-73, as provided by the Clerk’s Office of the Realm.

See our regularly updated listing of all Bricklyn Eagle articles dealing with artificial intelligence or data centers.

A colorful animated eagle character composed of plastic building blocks, set against a blue background with various circular blocks in different colors.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: While I appreciate Councilor Senbrick’s effort to have a moratorium, why can’t we just say NO to the use of artificial intelligence in Bricklyn. We don’t have to be part of this race to the bottom — which is what seems to be happening in the Outland world with a mad dash to incorporate AI into every aspect of life.

Our Federal Council made a smart decision back in 2023 to ban Facebrick from the Realm due to its monopolistic practices and abuse of privacy. We should simply ban the use of AI — we’ve done quite well till recently without it. No need to spend two years searching for a solution. Let’s just call for our Federal Council to end the use of AI in in Bricklyn — and we can all then dunk a Dunk Them Donut to celebrate! — Penelope B. Landers, Bricklyn Jct., VT

Reply from the Editor: Just want to quickly note that The Bricklyn Eagle for several years has used AI to assist with preparing photos and other graphics, and also as a research tool when our reporters and correspondents prepare articles for publication.

We encourage readers to view two articles we’ve published on the use of AI in Bricklyn: “Preliminary Guidance on the Use of Generative AI by Media & Government Agencies” (March 1, 2024) and “Bricklyn Eagle Slammed for Use of AI Generated Images” (May 12, 2025). Of course, The Bricklyn Eagle abides by all requirements set by the Federal Council, and also takes into consideration reader feedback. Thank you.

To the Editor: As is too often the case in our Realm, delay seems to be the watchword whenever something new and exciting is proposed. We’re already benefitting from AI, and there will be even greater benefits as data centers ramp up in size. Will AI take over the world and end both humanity and LEGO-based peoples like us? From what I’ve read, there’s probably no more than a 10 percent chance of that happening. The odds are in our favor! — Bruce B. Berenson, Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: I thought a two-year moratorium would be too long to be legal. Can you tell me if I’m right? — Sarah B. Drinkwine, Bricklyn, VT.

Reply from the Editor: Good question. We’ll ask Mark Tiler Richmond, who shared the byline on the article you just read, to address your question when he next reports on the moratorium debate.

To the Editor: What’s this AI really all about? The way I see it, AI’s only going to cost all of us a s**t load of money. The billionaire class is aiming to drug us with AI so we just sit at home all day twiddling our thumbs while watching AI-generated videos. That’s not what I signed up for. — Thomas B. Doomer, South Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: Your article quotes the head of the Chamber of Commerce touting 90 permanent jobs likely to be created by a new data center. He should know that those 90 jobs are peanuts compared to the number of jobs that will likely be lost due to the spread of artificial intelligence and robotics. — Angela Tiler Agard, Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: We definitely need this moratorium. But I do have one suggestion. I looked online, but did not see the Realm of Bricklyn listed as a signatory on the Center for AI Safety’s Statement on AI Risk? Here’s their simple and straightforward statement:
“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” Yes, “extinction.” Council member Senbrick, in his Resolution, should also call on the Realm of Bricklyn to endorse this statement and join its group of signatories from around the globe. — Cy Westbrick, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

The Drury Brick Company: Gone from Vermont, but Still Cranking Out Bricks in Bricklyn

➤ See also our related article: Bricklyn Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Drury Bricks

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

November 16, 2025

by Winifred Tiler Jackson

The manufacture of bricks in northwestern Vermont has a long history, and the Drury Brick Company has been at the heart of it, providing bricks for hundreds of buildings.

As local historian Bob Blanchard has noted: “Drury bricks are to be found everywhere in the Burlington area. … In the late 1880s and early 1900s, local demand for brick was nearly insatiable. …

Historic postcard of the Carnegie Library in Burlington, Vermont, showcasing its brick architecture and prominent front entrance.
The Fletcher Free Library’s Carnegie building in Burlington, Vermont, was built in 1904 with Drury manufactured bricks. Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000 for its construction

“The Drury brickyard was the biggest in the state, producing enough bricks not just for local consumption, but also distributing them to neighboring states. …

“Founded in 1867, it was also the last active brickyard in Vermont when it closed in 1971. [Drury’s] ability to hang on until 1971 is quite remarkable given their by then antiquated facilities. But modern, more efficient brick producers, mainly in the south proved too much to contend with … .” From “Burlington Area History. Facebook, [search “brick making” for several posts by Bob Blanchard and comments].

Turning to Brickmaking in Bricklyn

What is little known to most Vermonters is that the Drury Brick Company also built a LEGO-scaled brickmaking complex in Bricklyn.

➤ Lego-scale: All of the buildings in the Realm of Bricklyn, including the Drury brickmaking facilities, were built at 1:45 scale, when compared to Outland (human-scaled) buildings. In other words, a 45 foot high building in Burlington, Vermont, would be one foot high in Bricklyn.

This LEGO-scaled brickmaking facility continues to this day, using clay from deposits along the Brickooski River (known to Vermonters as the Winooski River) for the manufacture of bricks.

A LEGO scene depicting men working at a brickyard, with some digging clay from a hill, others transporting it in wheelbarrows, and a barge named 'ms DRURY VT' on the river.
Drury’s operations still include a barge used for the transport of clay from sites along the Brickooski River to the brickyard.
All photos of Drury operations in Bricklyn, VT, from archives of Bricklyn Historical Society, with assistance from GPT-4o AI.

Opened in 1875, Drury Bricks’ Bricklyn brickyard remains fully operational. It includes kilns, drying racks, and other accoutrements needed for turning clay into bricks; as well as for storing and then transporting the bricks to customers’ building sites.

This Bricklyn brickmaking complex, though barely known in the Outland world, is renowned among Inland cities.

Drury-made bricks became ubiquitous in Bricklyn during the boom years of the late 19th and early 20th century when the city’s population was rapidly growing.

A LEGO scene depicting a brickyard with a wooden shed, piles of brown bricks, and miniature figures dressed in early 20th-century work attire, labeled 'DRURY BRICKS BRICKLYN, VT'.
Two LEGO figures in front of a brick kiln, one holding a shovel and the other carrying a tray of bricks, with a brick building in the background.
1923 photos from Bricklyn Historical Society, with assistance from GPT 4.o AI.

Many Bricklyn buildings have been built with Drury-made bricks:

A colorful LEGO scene depicting a clean-up event titled 'Clean Day Bricklyn' in front of a red school building. Various LEGO figures are engaged in cleaning activities, holding mops, buckets, and brushes, creating a lively atmosphere.
Above: a relatively recent use of Drury bricks can be found in the Red Brick Middle School on South Street in Bricklyn — built in 2007. In this 2025 photo, students are participating in Clean Day Bricklyn. credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
A detailed LEGO model of a street scene featuring a bakery with a sign displaying the French flag. Two LEGO figures, a chef holding a pastry and a customer, are conversing in front of the storefront. The scene includes colorful buildings and a red and white striped road.

The Southwest Corner building in Bricklyn. Credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson.

Many downtown Bricklyn buildings, such as the Southwest Corner Building (above), make use of a pleasing buff or cream colored brick. The brick draws on clay deposits found along a portion of the Brickooski River that are low in iron and high in lime, yielding its cream color.

In 1972, the Drury Brick Company sold its Bricklyn site and facilities to a group headed by Lester Tiler Broffman (father of Dunk Them Donuts’ current CEO David Tiler Broffman), and was renamed “Drury Bricks.”

At the time, in gratitude for saving the jobs of hundreds of brick workers, there was even an effort to rename Bricklyn “Druryville.” This idea did not take hold, as many thought that name sounded too similar to “Drearyville.”

A colorful scene featuring LEGO figures seated at a table in a café called 'Dunk Them Bricks,' enjoying hot beverages and donuts, with a brick wall backdrop.
Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from GPT-4o AI.

In 2021, Drury Bricks became a wholly owned subsidiary of Dunk Them Donuts.

With this corporate takeover, one local wag took to calling the brickmaking operation “Dunk Them Bricks,” a moniker which caught on and is even displayed on the walls of several Dunk Them Donuts outlets.

The donut chain has gone so far as to create a line of donuts in the shape of bricks — great for dunking in a hot mug of coffee.

Dunk Them Donuts recently funded the installation of a genuine, human-scale Drury Brick in an open space next to the Bricklyn railyard. It honors a century and a half of brickmaking in the Realm of Bricklyn. For more details, see “Bricklyn Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Drury Bricks.”

A LEGO-themed scene depicting workers at 'Drury Bricks' in Bricklyn, VT, featuring four characters in blue overalls, hard hats, and a work environment with machinery and a sign.
Drury Bricks has continued to modernize its Bricklyn brick fabrication plant. credit: Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from GPT-4o AI.

Dunk Them Donuts CEO David Tiler Broffman told us that “Drury Bricks continues to be a valuable member of the Dunk Them Donuts family. Bricks, like donuts, are an integral and time-honored part of the Realm of Bricklyn’s economy. …

“As long as there are ample clay deposits in the Brickooski River, and we are certain there will be for decades to come, Drury Bricks will remain one of the Realm’s economic engines.”  (D. Broffman, personal communication, November 3, 2025). 

Two other much smaller “specialty” brick makers also continue to thrive in Bricklyn, and provide important services for the end users of bricks.

“My Colored Brick” focuses on the production of bricks having a range of colors. Coloring is usually accomplished by either adding colorant oxides or dyes to the clay mixture before it is fired or set, or by changes in the oxygen level during firing. For example, low oxygen “reduction firing” is often used to create blue colored bricks. Producing bricks in a variety of colors is both an art and a science. 📍See also “What determines the colour of a brick?” and “Influences on Colour“.

A colorful LEGO street scene featuring a detailed building with flower decorations, signs, and mini-figures on the sidewalk.

Distinctive blue, green, and even violet colored brick buildings can be found in downtown Bricklyn. Above is a view along Lower North Street.
Credit: Bricklyn Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson.

The “Matching Bricks Company” has a different, but equally important, role. It produces replacement bricks for buildings with damaged or defaced bricks. These bricks are made to closely match the color, grain (surface texture), and general condition of undamaged bricks from the involved building

A group of Lego figures holding protest signs that read 'Support the IUBM', 'Higher Wages', and 'Childcare!', standing in front of a brick building.
Credit: Paul Macro of The Bricklyn Eagle, with assistance of GPT-4o AI.

All told, the brick manufacturing sector provides some four hundred good paying jobs for Bricklynites. To this one can also add dozens of skilled brick masons and brick layers working for contractors or independently.

While we do not have room today to cover the role of the Inland Union of Bricklayers & Masons (IUBM) in organizing for workers’ rights, and the impact of the 2023 strike by the IUBM against Dunk Them Donuts and its Drury Bricks subsidiary, we would refer you to the entry about the IUBM in the online Bricklyn Glossary. ✥

W.T. Jackson’s Suggestions for Viewing on YouTube:

How Bricks Are Made, by Insider, offers a short five minute overview of the brickmaking process (note that in Bricklyn, clay is typically used, not shale as shown in this video, though occasionally shale is mixed in with the clay).

Inside Japan’s Oldest Brick Factory: How Red Bricks Are Made, by
Japanese craftsmanship -Kodawari, takes a look at the production of beautiful red bricks in the Okada Brick Factory, which opened in 1897. The video covers the key steps in the process: clay being dug; refined; and molded into bricks, and then the bricks being cut; dried; stacked; fired; and finally packaged for shipment. Don’t miss the views of an 1898 building built with Okada bricks (at 17:37 in the video). Also, be sure you have captions visible to read the descriptions of what you’re viewing.

The Nile Series: Brick-making tradition lives through centuries, by CGTN Africa, looks at bricks still made in Egypt using methods that are thousands of years old — molding mud from the Nile River, then adding straw and manure before baking the bricks. Truly fascinating. If you want more on Egyptian brickmaking, see “DIG IN! Authentic Brick Making in Egypt,” by Appian Media.

Colorful LEGO-style eagle head graphic with large eyes and a beak, surrounded by circular LEGO pieces of various colors.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

A black-and-white newspaper page titled 'THICK AS A BRICK,' featuring an article about a disqualification decision involving a young prizewinner. The page includes images of several individuals near the article, which discusses protests and controversies related to a performance.

To the Editor: Wow! W.T. Jackson really went to town in writing this. But I have to ask, can I just enjoy seeing our wonderful brick buildings without understanding their chemistry? Because when it comes to trying to understand the science of brick making or of producing colored bricks, I have to admit that I’m just what this Jethro Tull album of mine says, Thick As A Brick! — Tommy T. Brickface, Bricklyn, VT.

Close-up of a LEGO car with a minifigure wearing sunglasses in the driver's seat, surrounded by other toy vehicles and a detailed road setting.

To the Editor: I’m in Mr. Arnold’s English composition class at Bricklyn High School this year. As one of our assignments we need to write about something being reported on in your newspaper. So I read Ms. Jackson’s article (btw, I haven’t had her yet for history).

What I want to write about is why Dunk Them Donuts was interested enough in buying Drury Bricks. I thought making donuts was their claim to fame. So what’s with their interest in bricks? I’m going to try to corner Mr. Broffman about that. He’s the GOAT of business. Side note: often see him rolling through town in his black roadster. Here’s a shot I took of him a couple of months ago! — Turbo B. Turtle, South Bricklyn, VT.

To the Editor: As a resident of Burlington, Vermont, I have to say we’ve also benefitted immensely from our brick heritage. I’m glad to hear that Drury Bricks lives on — albeit in a greatly reduced size — in Bricklyn. One problem that does plague our brick buildings is the spread of graffiti. It not only destroys the beauty of our built environment, but is often time-consuming and costly to remove. Solutions seem hard to come by. The photos in your article seem to indicate that Bricklyn is graffiti-free. Very much hope that’s actually the case. — Stanley M., Burlington, VT.

Reply from the Editor: Thank you for your comment. Yes, Bricklyn is, and has always been, graffiti-free. As far as we’re aware that’s also true of other Inland realms. It’s an interesting question why that’s the case, which may well involve deeper questions of Outlander versus Inlander psychology. Perhaps one of our reporters can address this in a future Bricklyn Eagle article.