Courtland

Clay

opens in

Fairfax

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

FAIRFAX -- Courtland Clay Co. opened for business Dec. 13 in downtown Fairfax in the former Gumpolen's general store building.

The business moved relocated from Courtland.

The Gumpolen building was restored to what it looked like decades ago, Company President Scott Gooler said.

Featuring indigenous Minnesota clay products, the store includes native kaolin clay, ball clay, earthenware and stoneware clays and naturally-colored air dry modeling clays.

The project took about two years. It included extensive interior and exterior work. Three building roofs were redone. Tinwork that was originally done 95 years ago adorns the store's interior. The exterior is stucco.

"We needed more room," Gooler said. "We were in the east part of the old creamery building in Courtland. The building in Fairfax worked out well. We were also looking for a kaolin plant site in Fairfax. We saw this building and things worked out with the city of Fairfax."

Gooler originally bought a farm and permitted a mine site about a mile north of Fort Ridgely State Park.

His plans include building a kaolin processing plant on the current compost site along Highway 4, just east of Fairfax.

Interest in the processing plant is good, Gooler said. He plans to utilize tax-increment financing to build the plant.

"Fairfax and Renville County economic development people are very interested in our potential to bring new industry to the rural area," Gooler said.

The store includes a pottery and ceramics gallery, a small kiln and eventually a potter's wheel.

"Since we opened, we've had lots of people ask about adding classes. We found people interested in teaching, so that is shaping up too," Gooler said.