Author Archives: tracy

Whitacre Greer has a long history in the fired-clay products industry.  Following is a short history of the company’s early years.

Whitacre began producing hollow building block and fire brick in Magnolia in 1891. That year, he and two partners formed the Beatty Fire Clay Co. The second company closed in 1901, and Whitacre’s ex-partners set up shop across the street from his company.

E and R Studios provided the photo below of their Maple Hill project at The University of Arkansas.  Straight Edge Whitacre Greer 4x8x2-1/4 pavers were used to created this colorful layout.  Seven separate colors, including engraved shade 50 Ivory pavers, were combine, illustrating the wide range of color available in fired-clay brick pavers from Whitacre Greer.

Hardscape North America 2009, the show for hardscape contractors, is scheduled for January 14th-17th at Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria Centre.  New programs for 2009 include sessions for distributors and specifiers of hardscape products.  Download additional information below.

Hardscape North America 2009 Attendee Brochure

Learn how to increase profits by improving the sales and operations side of your business from the leaders in hardscape products distribution.  Program features a panel discussion with four of North America’s premiere hardscape distributors.

Sustainable Hardscapes – Professional Design Workshop

New to HNA is this workshop specifically for design professionals.  The program, geared to Landscape Architects and Civil Engineers, will focus on the sustainable aspects of hardscape products and systems.  AIA/CES credits and ASLA certificates of completion will be offered for 5 hours of study.  This program is co-sponsored by ICPI, NCMAand BIA.  Topics will include:  Permeable Interlocking Pavements, Clay Brick: Sustainable Through Time, LEED Points using SRW & Concrete Masonry, Building Green:  Roof & Deck Assemblies.

Hardscape Distributors:  How to Thrive in Challenging Times

Visit with distributor and Whitacre Greer personnel and learn more about the Permeable Boardwalk and other Whitacre Greer products at the following trade shows:

• American Society of Landscape Architects, Philadelphia, PA, October 4-5, Booth #428
• Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Baltimore, MD, January 7-9, with Church Brick South/Rock Products, Booth #1908
• Hardscape North America, Atlanta, GA, January 14-17, Booth #426
• Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show, Chicago, IL, January 14-16, with Town & Country Landscape Supply, Booth #511
• New Jersey American Society of Landscape Architects, Atlantic City, NJ, January 26-27
• Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show, Columbus, OH, January 26-28, Booth #5079

Ellwood City, PA project using 9×4-1/2×3-inch buff firebrick.  Thank you Brian for sharing photos of your project!

The Masonry Heater Association has wonderful resources for the design and construction of masonry bake ovens and pizza ovens.  Additional resources and an active online community can be found at Forno Bravo. Superior Clay Corporation offers oven kits as well as excellent pictures of finished ovens.  Superior Clay’s dealer network is extensive and can provide materials for ovens, fireplaces and chimneys.

Creative Pavers, Inc., West Deptford, NJ, created the attractive patio and fireplace shown below.  The project features Whitacre Greer Buckeye Blend Cobbled pavers.  Whitacre Greer Buff Firebrick line the fireplace.  Church Brick South/Rock Products, also of West Deptford, supplied the material.  Thank you Nick, Jack and Doug for sharing your project.

August 29th, in an effort to test the durability of the recently released fired-clay Permeable Boardwalk Paver, Whitacre Greer installed a 300 ft² test plot at the Alliance, OH manufacturing facility.  The test plot, positioned and sized to simulate a typical municipal crosswalk, spans the main entrance to the facility and will be subjected to truck traffic and personal vehicles.  Positioning of the plot insures that loaded trucks must cross the area exiting the plant subjecting the 2-1/4-wide x 9-inch long x 3-inch deep clay brick pavers to the stresses of starting and stopping vehicles and rotational forces of turning spread-axle flatbed trailers.  The test environment is expected to be considerably harsher than the typical use environment.

Contact your nearest Whitacre Greer distributor or Chris Kaboth at ckaboth@wgpaver.com for samples of this exciting new product.

Samples of Whitacre Greer’s new Permeable Boardwalk Paver are now available.  The Permeable Boardwalk Paver is a genuine fired-clay brick paver.  The paver’s dimensions, 2-1/4-inches wide, 9-inches long, and 3-inches deep allow it to be installed in several bond patterns including:  running bond, herringbone, double herringbone and basket weave.  Contact your nearest Whitacre Greer distributor or email Chris Kaboth at ckaboth@wgpaver.com for samples of this exciting new product.  The Permeable Boardwalk Paver is designed to assist with stormwater management goals.  Whitacre Greer Permeable Boardwalk Pavers may be used by municipal engineers to comply with Stormwater Phase II requirements for MS4s.  The fired-clay Permeable Boardwalk Paver is sized to accomodate pedestrian and vehicular applications.

Running Bond

Basket Weave

Double Herringbone

In a July 27th ceremony directors of the Beech Creek Botanical Garden official opened the Beech Creek Butterfly House.  Donors to the project, including The Whitacre Greer Company, were recognized by Alliance Mayor Tony Middleton.  The Beech Creek Butterfly House features butterflies native to Ohio and is just one initiative of the Beech Creek Botanical Garden, a 164-acre nature preserve in Washington Township that is being developed into a horticultural and environmental education facility.  For additional information on the Beech Creek Botanical Garden click here.  Read the July 22nd Alliance Review article here.

Properly designed masonry fireplaces and heaters can contributed four and six points respectively to the National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Standard.  Fireplaces with gasketed doors, outside combustion air, and a means of sealing the flue provide heat without compromising indoor air or heat loss.  Masonry heaters of brick are energy efficient and clean burning.  Read the Brick Industry Association’s Builder Notes Issue 5 – Brick: Green Building Design and Sustainability to learn how fired-clay brick can contribute to LEED and NAHB green building standards.  For assistance designing your next fireplace visit Superior Clay and Rumford Fireplaces.  The Masonry Heater Association can provide help with the design and installation of an attractive and functional masonry heater.  Whitacre Greer low-duty firebrick are available nationwide for the construction of fireplaces and masonry heaters.  Visit wgfirebrick.com for technical data and additional design resources.