In the early days of Webster City the streets were dirt and drainage was almost non-existent. This created sloughs and mud holes in many parts of town. The area between Walter Willson's Hotel at Des Moines and Second Streets and the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad was a big slough that extended behind many of the Second Street stores. There was another big slough about where our current swimming pool is located. North of the pool was a small lake named Dougherty Lake. Yet another problem was the slough located on Bank Street, east of Fuller Hall. In order to get Webster City out of the mud, it was necessary to drain some of the sloughs and ponds. The first drainage project in Webster City was done about 1870 by Walter Willson to allow his guests get from his hotel to the depot without going through the mud.

The drainage project involved laying tile beneath the surface of the ground with an outlet to a creek, pond, or the Boone River. The first man to make clay tile was Ira Hillyard, who had his brickyards in three different places in Webster City. His first one was located just north of the Bonebright Museum Complex near the river. Then he moved his operation further west and north near the present location of the Middle School. Finally, he moved the brickyards to the north end of Prospect Street. He made all of the bricks for the early buildings in Webster City, and he made clay tile in his spare time. He was never able to devote much time to the tile, which prompted two other businesses to begin operations in Webster City.

On December 1, 1888, three men incorporated the Webster City Brick and Tile Company. They were Jacob Funk, C. W. Soule, and M. E. Hayans. They issued Capitol Stock in the amount of $50,000 at $50 per share. This allowed them to construct their plant on north Seneca Street, just north of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad (today called the Illinois Central RR). The business consisted of a main building, clay sheds, coal sheds, an office, and three very long and narrow dryers that ventilated at the south end. In addition, there were seven round down drought brick kilns. Soule became president of the company and general manager. Their clay and coal supplies were shipped from Lehigh.

The statement in the incorporation notice listed this purpose: "The manufacture, buying, selling, and trading in brick, tile, building blocks and of any, all and every kind of clay products." They went into production and found a ready market for their brick and tile.

On December 15, 1909, the incorporation was amended to allow the issuance of $100,000 stock in $50 shares. By this time, Jacob Funk had sold his interest to Soule. Other men were named as officers and the board of directors. G. A. Soule became president; John F. Carey was vice president; M. S. Carey was secretary; and C. W. Soule was named treasurer. At a later date, the company name was changed to the Acme Cooperative Brick & Tile Company. C. W. Soule remained the largest shareholder.

One thing that Soule did, which greatly pleased the citizens of Webster City, was to build a brick sidewalk from his plant on the west side of Seneca Street to cross the railroad tracks. The city made mention of this deed in the Freeman Journal.

On March 12, 1912, another company was formed to make tile and brick. It was named the National Sewer Pipe Company and opened temporary offices over the Metcalf Store on Second Street. A special announcement appeared in the Hamilton Freeman showing a sketch of the proposed building. Stock was issued in the amount of $250,000. On May 12, 1912, the company purchased 35.95 acres of land on West Second Street between the tracks of two railroads from Sarah Goodrich for $9,375.00. The Illinois Central tracks bounded the north edge of the property, and the Crooked Creek Railroad bounded the southern edge.

W. J. Zitterell was contracted to build the plant and George E. Lowrie, of Lehigh, was employed as plant Superintendent. The officers named were: L. E. Crowter, President; H. R. Dodge, Vice-President; P. H. Hearn, Secretary and Manager; C. H. Clifton, Treasurer. In addition to those named the following were named as Directors: J. W. Hittle, W. O. McConnell, J. L. Kamrar, W. J. Zitterell, W. A. Johnson, and J. L. Peterson. Kamrar was an original member, but he sold his interest to E. P. Prince before the plant was completed.

An article in the Freeman that same month stated that Lehigh clay was to be used by the local factory. A sample of the product was presented at the National Clay Products Exposition in Chicago. Their product was deemed superior to all others on display. J. B. Hughes, of the Mercantile Store in Webster City, had visited the exposition and commented on the miniature houses that were built of clay products.

In the April 2, 1912, issue of the Freeman stated that "work had begun on the big sewer tile plant. The first load of lumber had been delivered. C. J. Harrington, of the Illinois Central Railroad, went all over the grounds to locate sidetracks which would be needed. The contract for a 6-inch well was let to J. J. Becker of Garner, who was expected to have his big well machine on the grounds soon. A temporary office, a cement house, and other side buildings will be started tomorrow."

The November 19, 1912, Freeman stated that "some delays were experienced as lumber shipments went astray. The Crooked Creek Railroad delivered six carloads of Lehigh clay which was stored until the plant could be completed. The boiler room was first completed. It had a brick exterior. and an elevator was to be installed soon. Shingling on the main building was to be completed in the next week. It was stated that soon twenty woodworkers would be on the job from now on. Work on the kilns was advancing rapidly. There were to be sixteen round ovens, three of which were now finished. Manager P. W. Hearn began receiving invoices for a sewer pipe press, elevators, and other equipment, which were shipped from Akron, Ohio on November 12^th."

Work on the plant continued. The June 24, 1913, Freeman-Journal, reported that the machinery was now in working order except for one seventy-inch pulley, which was broken in transit. A telegraph was sent out calling for shipment of another. The Crooked Creek Railroad contracted for larger dump cars to supply the plant. The first contract for 1500 feet of thirty-six inch tile was placed with National. This was the largest size tile manufactured in Iowa. In addition, the contract called for several miles of smaller tile.

The headline of the July 15, 1913, Freeman was "Plant In Operation." The article stated that this was one of the largest plants west of the Mississippi River. Visitors were taken to the large clay storage room which measured 240 feet long and 50 feet wide. It held between four and five hundred carloads of clay. A large conveyer belt carried the ground clay to the machine room. After the clay mixture reached the cupola it was pushed into two shafts. The clay descended into a bin over the working pans. Here clay was mixed with water after which it was taken to the top of the building where it was emptied into the press feeder. About 500 pounds of pressure pushed the mud into a cylinder on the third floor. A pressure of 90 tons forced the mud into the tile shape. From there it was taken to the drying room. Then it was stored outdoors according to size. An early advertisement indicated all sizes of tile from 3 inches up to 8 inches of sewer pipe were available.

In 1914 the plant employed 100 men with a payroll of $62,000. In 1917 C. H. Clifton took over the plant and served as President and General Manager. The officers listed at that time show Dodge serving as Vice-President, P. W. Hearn as Secretary, B. F. Paine as treasurer, and H. M. Sparboe as Sales Manager. They must have experienced some difficulty with their source of clay as they had to go to Nevada to meet its needs. The plant was sold in 1926 to W. S. Dickey, who came here from Missouri. On January 15, 1927, the plant was transferred to the W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company, a corporation registered in Delaware. The warranty deed indicated the sale at $1.00.

On Sept. 1, 1939, the site was sold to Zitterell Mills, who then transferred the property to Kenneth H. Marvel of the Marvel Sales Barn. Today the site is home to Swine Graphics Enterprises and serves as a truck cleaning facility.