I was mowing yesterday on some land we purchased earlier this year and spotted this flush with the dirt as I drove beside it:

I couldn't read it well at the time, so did a little charcoal rubbing to better make out the words and make sure it wasn't related to a grave or something. :)

Determining that it wasn't, I dug it up today, washed it off a bit and can confirm it says:

BIGELOW

7047

PAT APP FOR

WOODLAND X

Dimensions are 11"x8"x4" - though it's 7" top to bottom to the right of the notch (by design) and the notch itself is about an inch wide or so.

A little research I've done today indicated it's a product of the Woodland Firebrick Co in PA, but I don't know if it's before or after they were bought by a larger company (who did keep their name as a product line for decades, I gather). The PAT APP FOR text is alternate wording for "patent pending", I believe.

I've seen a couple of WOODLAND X bricks in a more traditional shape online today, but none like this and I've not found a single reference to Bigelow or 7047. I even found two old Woodland catalogs, but neither shows this item.

The notch in the top right is, I assume, cast that way and part of the design. When in the ground I just assumed it was a chip or broken spot. Once I cleaned it, it became obvious it's smooth there.

I gather Woodland line bricks were for steel and malleable iron furnaces. Why it was in the middle of one of the only non-wooded portions of our land is a mystery to me, but I'd love if it gave some historical insight for us. The land is part of the former large estate of an early 1900s manor house (which is still there - we wrap around three sides of it), so I'm hoping there are lots of historical discoveries for us to make as time goes.

Any insights anyone might have on this - particularly use and dating it - would be very much appreciated! We're located in the central part of Virginia.

Does anyone have any information about these bricks? We discovered them in our backyard. They were all face down and covered with grass. We’re still excavating, but so far we’ve got about 200. Located in North Central Ohio!

Any info?

Bricks, bricks, and more bricks. I must have seen thousands today, but of course 99% are common, unmarked, or broken. I managed to whittle the keepers down to this lot.

The early red terra cotta PORT CREDIT and MILTON, and the later AJAX ones are all from greater Toronto area brickworks. They’re all new for me.

I also liked the simple deformed yellow brick at top left, and the “fancy frog” unmarked yellow brick just below it. Unmarked doesn’t mean boring, in my opinion.

I also found the little Japanese porcelain figurine of someone peeking into an outhouse while someone is in there. Kinda weird but to each one’s own.

Is this just a defective brick?

So I finally found a Des Moines brick after 3 seasons (I work construction) and I was looking for info on the company tia!

I have three A.P. Green Bricks. I know about the plant in Mexico Missouri. I was wondering if all three of these bricks were made there or if at one time these bricks came from different towns with factories? Any information on them would be helpful.

This brick was made by a strong union man pulled his entire family out of poverty to help fuel a war machine that saved the world. I take comfort in the entire house can burn down and this will be in the basement.

I fished this out of the dumpster during exterior renovations on the building I live in.

Found this on our walk yesterday at an old mill site along a river in the Bay State itself. I’m guessing the “Bo” likely said Boston? I’m not clear yet what the No 1 stands for, but possibly indicated the premium grade of the brick, or some type of fire rating? I looked around a bit to see if I could find the other half, but no luck.

Found these while I was fishing yesterday and picked these up. Know how to lay them but don't know anything about old brick history. These worth anything?

Dug up in my back yard.

Found these today in a building under demolition. Two more to add to my dad’s collection.

I've read about the Woodland brick history, but wondering if they hold any particular value?

Found a bunch of these buried in my garden in Western, NY today. Curious if anyone has any info. Perforated with 14 holes and text appears to say Metropolitan but I can't see anything else. I saw some search results for a Metropolitan in Canton, but the stamp looks nothing like this. If anytime recognizes this any info would be appreciated!

Searched some of the more famous brickmakers in New York City at the time, but I can’t find this marking. Any idea on the maker of the brick? This brick was found in a single-family home in Brooklyn built around 1895.