closed in 1930 with production continuing at its sister plant in Kilgard. The Kilgard Company was also founded by Charles Maclure in 1913 and purchased by the Clayburn Company in 1918. Many factors were likely the reason for the closure of the Clayburn site: the 1930’s depression was setting in and it was costly to run 2 sites, old infrastructure at the Clayburn site, Kilgard was closer to the source of clay within Sumas Mountain and the train trestles bringing the clay from Straiton to Clayburn were in need of repair. The plant was dismantled during the 1930s. The company paid local residents half a cent per brick they cleaned and stacked. In this way through the 1930s eleven kilns, six round and five rectangular ones, the storage buildings, the office, the tunnel dryer, and the massive smokestack bearing CLAYBURN 1911 were taken down, until by 1940 nothing except a few ruined foundations remained. The workers continued living in the company houses in Clayburn and were transported to work to Kilgard. Times were tough and during WWII, the Clayburn company sold the houses, offering them to Clayburn veterans for $300 first and then they were offered to the public. In 1917 the Clayburn Athletic Association formed as the community was vibrant and active with many sports teams. A soccer pitch, tennis court, and small golf course was built behind the houses and were all well used. They no longer exist today. In 1967 the dormant Clayburn Athletic Association was reactivated, and in 1992, the name was changed to the Clayburn Village Community Society (CVCS). The not-for-profit CVCS has an elected Board of Directors and continues to oversee the historic village and owns the historic church, school, and park across from the store. Part of its mandate is to preserve and protect the historic buildings and educate the public about the history of Clayburn. Revenue to uphold the mandate comes from renting out the school and church for events, and renting to the movie industry using the unique townsite and buildings for filming. The Clayburn Village Museum is presented by the CVCS and operated by volunteers. It is located in the basement of the restored schoolhouse and displays a scale model of Clayburn, circa 1920 and many other artifacts from the brick plant and the village. clayburnvillage.com See also Kilgard, British Columbia References BC Names entry "Clayburn (community)" BRICK BY BRICK: