A lesson on the local brick industry

Cornwall-on-Hudson — For its Winter Evening Speakers Series, the Museum of the Hudson Highlands will offer The Great Hudson Brick Industry” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Painter’s Tavern on Hudson St. in Cornwall-on-Hudson. At the beginning of the 20th Century, brick manufacturing was the dominant industry on the Hudson River. One hundred and thirty manufacturers employed 7,000 to 8,000 workers. It was the largest brickmaking region in the world, and it supplied essential building material to a fast-growing New York City. At least one distinguished player in the industry was from Cornwall. George V. Hutton, author of “The Great Hudson River Brick Industry: Commemorating Three and a Half Centuries of Brickmaking,” will speak about the industry, its technological innovations, manufacturing methods, and labor history. Hutton is a retired architect with firsthand experience in brickmaking at the Hutton Company in Kingston. General admission is $7, or $4 for museum members. For directions, visit www.painters-restaurant.com. Reservations are not required. For more information, call 534-5506 ext. 204, or visit www.museumhudsonhighlands.org.