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in 1983 and 1984. [In 1981, hous-
ing starts bombed, hitting a 35-year
low.] As sales continued to climb,
Acme Brick began stamping its bricks
with its logo, perpetuating the brand
recognition which continues to this
day.”
In 1976, Acme became the number
one American brick-maker in both
sales and production. Two years later
the company set the US record for
single-year brick sales. Over the years
Acme built or acquired plants in vari-
ous states.
Eighteen years ago, the company
joined Warren Buffet’s team. “In
2000, the Justin Industries Board of
Directors, owners of Acme Brick
Company, approved the sale of the
company to Warren Buffett and
Berkshire Hathaway. Acme Brick
sold for around $600 million and,
to this day, is owned by Berkshire
Hathaway.”
The late 2000s proved challenging
for the long-lived company. When
overbuilding and the subprime mort-
80
Old-time Brickmaking in Bennett
gage crisis finally erupted, the hous-
ing market collapsed. Acme reduced
production in most of its plants and
temporarily closed others, including
one of the Bennett plants. The local
plant ceased operation in July of
2009, after on Dec. 30, 2008, Case-
Shiller Home Price Index recorded
the largest drop in its history.
“It was a big surprise for many,”
Bennett Plant Manager Tracy Bruton
recalled. “I mean, they knew things
were bad, but closing down … big
surprise.” Seventeen workers were
laid off with others shuffled around
until the economy began to recover.
When housing began to pick up
in 2012, Bennett reopened. Acme
hosted a Feb. 5, 2013, ceremony at
the Bennett plant celebrating the first
load of brick produced by the newly
reopened location.
Bruton has credited Acme CEO
Dennis Knautz, who took over in
2005, with bringing the company
through the housing debacle. When
asked, Knautz said his strategy
took into account that “history has
shown us how the housing market
can recover very quickly, and it
was important to bring the plants
back online to position us to serve
our customers when they needed
the brick.” He recognized Berkshire
Hathaway, saying, “Fortunately our
owner understood what the industry
faced and supported us throughout
these tough years.”
Two years ago, during Acme’s
125th birthday year, the company
held celebrations in 66 offices in
14 states and at 22 plants. Various
governors of states Acme oper-
ates in honored and congratulated
the company on its long history of
economic contribution.
According to Bruton, who has
been with the company since 1994,
at present the Bennett Plant employs
just over 70 people. The current plant
was built in 1996. “This is the origi-
nal site,” he explained, “but for the
most part, everything here is recent.
A lot of the original stuff is now
gone.” The site produces just over 73
million bricks a year.