Insulbrick

 Insulbrick

Insulbrick covered many of the homes in western Pennsylvania homes. Many of the raw-lumber constructed homes were built without insulation. Homeowners chose to use this tar impregnated fiber paper to seal cracks and to add a layer of insulation to their houses. The tarpaper was frequently coated with brown, gray, or the most favorite color red minerals. The minerals were applied in patterns of brick or cut stone. Insulbrick came in rolls like tar paper roofing and was nailed to the house.
I can remember the house that my mom Sybil Miner Beck and my dad Edson Carl Beck bought. It had thick brown Insulbrick paper covering it. The house was little more than a cottage with half of a basement. My father and his father Edson Thomas Beck slowly expanded it over the years to accommodate our families’ needs. Our neighbors’ house was covered in Insulbrick but in the gray cut-stone pattern.
Other buildings I can remember were the ones my grandfather Edson Thomas Beck helped to build. My grandfather’s home in Indian Head, Pennsylvania was covered in the brown Insulbrick, while my aunt and uncle, Estella and Melvin Strawderman’s house next door. It was covered in the red brick mineral paper.
The last two Insulbrick covered buildings I remember are churches. One was located just at the edge of the coal mining town of Melcroft, Pennsylvania. It was situated along Route 711 on the right driving from Indian Head. I can’t remember its name, but it was a two story Pentecostal church that had theater seats. It had fold down theater seats, because once it had been a theater. My grandfather preached there often.
The other Insulbrick clad building that I fondly remember. Mt. Hope was another Pentecostal church. It was one that my Grandfather Beck helped to build. It was covered in red Insulbrick tar paper. As a lay speaker, he preached many sermons there. The church was located along Route 31 driving from Jones Mills to Somerset. The building still stands near the summit, but is now covered in boards and was a pizza joint the last I knew.