The Hidden Historical Treasures of Southeast Ohio
By: Boy Dhessa Pasha
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Southeast Ohio has a rich history in the brick industry. While some have lost interest in the industry and its products, others are developing a passion for bricks. Michelle Lemaitre is one of them. A brick enthusiast and collector, she cares for her bricks the way some would handle fine art or jewels.
Most today could not tell the difference between bricks molded or cut in the brick plants of yesteryear but LeMaitre knows the fine details, down to the fingerprints accidentally pressed into the still-moist rectangles of clay as they were placed into kilns to bake.
It is a passion she shared with her late husband, Joe Donohoe. And when she needed support during that difficult time, she found it among other brick collectors who circled around her. It was that camaraderie that deepened her love for Southeast Ohio bricks and the people who still find them fascinating.
What used to be a business has now become a priceless activity, a passion. Lemaitre told us she doesn’t sell bricks. She likes to trade them for others where she enjoys more human interaction with other brick enthusiasts.