HISTORIC BRICK KILN 1867 and was likely the second or third brick manufacturer in the state. The beehive‑style structure originally measured about 40 feet in diameter, with an in‑terior space of 34 to 35 feet. Murtha bricks pro‑duced at the site were used in local buildings, including the Murtha house.
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Restoration work continues on the historic beehive brick kiln on the Murtha property in Elk Point in April 2026. The Union County Historical Society is repairing the 19th‑century structure with funding from the Fern Chicoine estate. Submitted photo
The Union County Historical So‑ciety is continuing restoration work on the county’s historic brick kiln, a 19th‑century beehive kiln believed to be one of the earliest brick‑making sites in South Dakota.The project is funded through a donation from the estate of Fern Chi‑coine, an original member of the soci‑ety and a lifelong Union County resi‑dent. A previous renovation completed in the 1980s…
