Henry Albert Morrell, 1830–1912
Henry Albert [H. A.] Morrell, was born in Gardiner January 23, 1830 to Arch and Statira (Andrews) Morrell. According to the Illustrated History of Kennebec County Maine, 1625 – 1892 (Editors Henry D. Kingsbury and Simeon L. Deyo), “Henry Albert Morrell is a brick maker at Pittsfield. He is a man of good literary attainments, well known by his nom de plume ‘Juniper’ ”.
In a series of articles on brick making, written while his father, Arch Morrell, was living, H. A. said: ‘My father did the same business for more than fifty years in succession, but the excessive labor has not brought him to an untimely grave—not yet, and he is eight[y]-five years old …”
From time to time H. A. wrote articles in the Pittsfield Advertiser as ‘Juniper’, commenting on topics of the day. His “Then and Now” article from December 27, 1886, was quoted extensively starting on page 39 in Sanger Mills Cook’s Pittsfield on the Sebasticook.
His brick yard supplied bricks for the construction of Union Hall in 1882. The October edition of the Pittsfield Advertiser, quoted in Sanger Cook’s Pittsfield on the Sebasticook, stated that H. A. Morrell “has finished making his third kiln of bricks. This will make 600,000 bricks he has manufactured since June 12th and a large portion of them has gone into the construction of Union Hall….” Within a few years the brickyard’s capacity had grown to a million bricks a year.
The rhyme below is from a booklet titled Rhythmical Advertising produced by the Pittsfield Universalist Ladies Aid Society in 1903. The booklet consisted of rhymes for each business in town.
The brickyard you will find in Elm street,
And H. A. Morrell delightful to meet;
He burns one kiln or more every year,
And is always prepared to fill orders here.
Brickyard—owned by Marada L. Johnson’s grandfather, Henry A. Morrell Item 1475T
Located at the end of Elm Street, near Henry Street. Henry Street was named for this man: Henry Morrell. Morrell Street also was named for the family. [Henry Street is now School Street.]
From Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1799-1892, Part 2, by Henry D. Kingsbury, Simeon L. Deyo:
“Henry Albert Morrell is a brick maker at Pittsfield. He is a man of good literary attainments, well known by his nom de plume “Juniper.” His first wife was Sarah Jane Springer, of Gardiner, his second wife Marada Jane Mills. Each has three children: Fonetta Augusta (Mrs. Charles O. Morrell); Mary Everett, who died young; Nellie F. (Mrs. Nathaniel L. Perkins); Clarence Henry, Effie and Ethel Belle Morrell.”
From Brick and Clay Record, March 1, 1912:
“Henry Albert Morrell, probably the oldest brickmaker in the United States, died at his home, Pittsfield Me, Feb. 3 at the age of 81. He had conducted a brickyard at Pittsfield for over 40 years, until in 1906, because of failing health, he sold the plant to Dover parties. Mr. Morrell, at various times, contributed articles on brickmaking to brick journals.”
