Veedersburg Wabash Clay Company historic marker • Veedersburg Indiana
Veedersburg Wabash Clay Company
One of the most iconic brand names in the world of sports has its origins here in the town of Veedersburg. The famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known the world over as “The Brickyard”, because the track surface was once composed entirely of bricks. After other surfaces had failed in early races, bricks were recommended to Speedway founder, Carl Fisher, as the most durable material available. Desiring only the best, Fisher turned to Veedersburg. Veedersburg’s Wabash Clay Company was nationally reknowned for its quality. When Fisher visited Wabash Clay in September, 1909, he was impressed, and ordered 3,500,000 bricks at $.13 each. Meeting Fisher’s demanding timeframe took a herculean effort by Wabash Clay’s workers. But, 63 days after the first bricks arrived, the Speedway was paved. The majority of those bricks remain today; the very core of the Speedway, and a testament to the proud legacy of Veedersburg.
An Indiana State Bicentennial Project
Indiana Racing Memorial Association
www.indianaracing.org
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20in2094/20in2107 | ©2020 David Allio