Venerable Veneklasen

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About Venerable Veneklasen

This group is a place for admirers of Veneklasen brickwork to showcase and discuss Veneklasen brick structures and even new structures that are being built in a similiar style. Heck, we even like similar styles from outside of West Michigan; Flickr members Mr. Perry and That Canadian Girl both have excellent examples of di-chromatic Ontario brickwork in their photostreams.

The Venklasen family made bricks in West Michigan from 1848 until the 1920's. Possibly beginning as early as the 1860's, these bricks were used to make polychromatic patterns on houses, churches, schools and businesses.

Numerous people have researched and documented these fast disappearing buildings. If you want cold, hard facts and data, contact those experts. If you just want to enjoy the wonderful styles, colors and patterns of Veneklasen brick, then we welcome you!

For those of you wanting the above mentioned expert information, the book "Veneklasen Brick" by Michael J. Douma is an excellent resource.

Our goal is to, as a group, compile photos of existing and demolished Veneklasen brick structures. Please consider adding your Veneklasen photos to our group. We welcome multiple photos of these houses. Also please consider mapping your photos so that it is easier for others to locate these wonderful houses.