Alejandro Morales is an acclaimed author whose novel “The Brick People” is the story of the Mexicans who worked at the Simons Brick Yard. Their work was crucial to the growth of Los Angeles and Southern California from the 1920s to 1960s. Latinopia is proud to showcase this excerpt from a documentary based on the book by Morales that was directed by Mike Kirsch.
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Posted in Cinema/TV,LATINOPIA SHOWCASEFebruary 27, 201113 comments
13 comments
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My name is Raoul Cervantes and I'm very familiar with the story & history of the " Brick People." My father was a Bricklayer and I followed in his footsteps. Dad was a 50 year member of the Bricklayers Union and I will receive my 50 year Gold Card in 2012. I was first introduced to Simon Brick as a brick tender when I was 15 years old during the summer between my freshman & sophmore year at La Puente High School. I worked with my dad for Azteca Masonry company owned and operated by Tony Ortiz in El Monte,CA. My Career has taken me many places and was introduced to the " Brick People" when I met Alejandro Morales when owned a bookstore in Tustin,CA. I purchased 3000 Simons brick a few years ago, knowing that they would become difficult to find, since most brick building using simon brick have either been torn down or retrofitted.
email address: brickie@verizon.net -
Hi Raul, I live in La Puente now, have been here since 1968, My kids, 5 in all, went to LP High.
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Hay Mijos, It is so great to see dialog taking place about the great contributions our people to our nation! Thank you all for sharing. It makes this Tia really proud. Yours, Tia Tenopia
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My name is Sergio Jimenez and I am the Grandson of Tony Ortiz who owned Aztec Stone and Brick Co. My grandpa bought the remaining Simons inventory when the Simons yard closed. My grandma quica lived at Simons. My family attended the 1982 Simons reunion. Betty Uyeda and I organized the 100th anniversary of the Simons brickyard at the city of commerce. I am a barrio history buff and am currently vice President of La Historia Historical Society of El Monte. La Historias purpose is to preserve the history of Greater El Montes barrios including those in South El monte. I also have a lot of information pertaining to Aztec Stone & Brick Co and Tony Ortiz. I would like to contact Mr. Cervantes.
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Check out my new blog on the Simons Brickyard
http://simonsbrickyard.blogspot.com/ -
I am looking for anyone who mighted have known my grandfather. The sheriff of Simon's brickyard, Henry Prado.
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Dear Alice, I'll pass the word on to Alejandro Morales, the author of The Brick People. I understand that he is in touch with a lot of folks from the yard. Tia Tenopia
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My father in law Enrique (henry) Negrete and his brother Julio Negrete worked at simons brick co. when they first arrived in the united states from mexico in 1921 some of the stories he would tell me were simply amazing like crossing the border all that was needed was something like three dollars and basic identifaction.we have pictures of him as young man at simons brick company.he later was able to go to work for glady mcbean.later becoming franciscan pottery he retiered there after 35 years.
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I read this book and found it to be awesome. I know someone who lived down the street in Pico Rivera/Montebello area.
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I read this book and found it to be awesome. I know someone who lived down the street in Pico Rivera/Montebello area.
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My father Lorenzo Polanco worked at Simon's Montelbello yard. I would like to know if anyone remembers him or if I can be directed to payroll records to verify.
I would also like to know if there are any "native americans" who worked at Simon?
Thank you in advance.
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Richard, will pass on the query to author Alejandro Morales who may know. Tia Tenopia
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I lived in Simons "El Hoyo" from 1936 to 1952.