# Decorative Concrete Block

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/decorative-concrete-block/
- Published: 2018-11-16T09:00:57-05:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

Decorative concrete blocks were the rage in house building from about 1890’s to 
the 1930’s.  These decorative concrete blocks came in an assortment of styles and
sizes.

They could be purchased from a local building supplier but most likely made right
on the construction site. A concrete block machine could be ordered from the Sears
catalog for $42.50 in 1910.

Many homes were built entirely of decorative concrete block. Some Foursquare homes
had concrete block on the first floor and clapboard or wood shingles on the second
floor. Some homes only used

[⌊decorative concrete block⌉⌊decorative concrete block⌉[

Decorative concrete blocks.

decorative concrete block for the foundation. Concrete block was also used for garages.
The automobile was thought to be a fire hazard so people felt safer with their automobiles
in a fire proof concrete block garage.

[⌊decorative concrete block machine⌉⌊decorative concrete block machine⌉[

Wizard decorative concrete block machine. Sears catalog.

[⌊Decorative concrete block designs.⌉⌊Decorative concrete block designs.⌉[

Decorative concrete block designs.

Seeing decorative concrete block on a Victorian is a good way to date the house.
Although the architecture may look like it’s from the 1800’s, seeing the use of 
concrete block I have found can usually date the house to around the 1910’s.  I 
have also discovered much older houses that have been moved to a new location and
used concrete block for the new foundation.

The 1930’s saw the end of decorative concrete block due to mass production machines
prohibiting the cast ornamental faces. The plain concrete cinder blocks were faceless
and best never seen.

[⌊decorative concrete block house.⌉⌊decorative concrete block house.⌉[

Decorative concrete block house.

**The above information comes from an article in The Old House Journal. For more
detailed information [read the full article here ](https://books.google.com/books?id=VJY1hE0W9UoC&pg=PA32&dq=old+house+journal+march+1995&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjm9uPs_rXeAhUkhuAKHd_tDqAQ6AEIODAE#v=onepage&q=old%20house%20journal%20march%201995&f=false).**

At the same time construction with decorative concrete blocks was booming, Thomas
Edison was experimenting with building concrete houses from a single molding operation.
This process turned out to be a failure. [Here is the story ](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/thomas-edisons-concrete-houses?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=182843a97e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-182843a97e-63352105&ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_8_21_2018)&mc_cid=182).

## Where Can I Get Decorative Concrete Blocks Today?

As of the time of writing this article there were two places making these blocks.

 * [Classic Rock Face Block Company ](http://classicrockfaceblock.com/)
 * [Historic Rock Face Block Company ](http://www.historicrockfaceblock.com/)

Another option is to contact your local cinder block company. They can make a mold
of a historic block and reproduce the blocks. The process can take about two months.

## The History of Concrete

_Thank you to my neighbor Kathy M. for inspiring me and helping me with this article._