Remillard Brothers facts for kids

The Remillard family were super successful owners of brick factories in Oakland and San Francisco, California. They made bricks from the 1860s to the mid-1900s. People even said they helped build San Francisco twice! They built it once before the big 1906 earthquake and fire, and then again afterwards. For example, the famous Palace Hotel needed 1.5 million Remillard bricks to be built.

The three brothers who started this big brick-making company and built the Remillard family fortune came from St. Valentin, Quebec, Canada. They moved to California around the time the Gold Rush was ending.

The Remillard Family: Brick Builders of San Francisco

Pierre-Nicolas "Peter" Remillard

Pierre-Nicolas “Peter” Remillard was born on April 2, 1837, in St. Valentin, Quebec. In 1854, when he was 17, he came to California. He worked in gold mining and saved a good amount of money.

In 1861, at age 24, Peter moved to Oakland. He got a job at a brickyard. Within five years, he went from being an employee to owning the brickyard! He opened an office and yard in Oakland and a brick plant nearby. His brothers, Hilaire and Edward, came from Quebec to join him in the business.

The company grew a lot. In 1879, it became the Remillard Brick Company. For many years, the Remillard brothers not only made bricks but also helped build things. In 1882, they opened a large brickyard in Pleasanton.

The Remillards supplied bricks for many important buildings. These included the old Palace Hotel in San Francisco and many large buildings in Oakland. For about 40 years, the Remillards were the only brick company in Alameda County. They supplied bricks for almost every brick building there. They also had a near-monopoly on supplying bricks to the western states and Pacific Islands. In 1890, they opened a yard in Greenbrae, Marin County. Two years later, in 1892, the Remillards opened a yard in San Jose that employed over 300 men.

Pierre-Nicolas Remillard married Cordule Laurin in January 1867 in San Francisco. He passed away suddenly on August 3, 1904, at his home in Oakland. He was 67 years old. Peter Remillard was one of the founders of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. He was also an early member of the Athenian Club. His blue Eastlake style home is now in Preservation Park in Oakland. Remillard Park in Berkeley was named after him in 1964. This was because his daughter, Countess Lillian Remillard Dandini, donated land for part of the park.

Philippe-Hilaire "Philip" Remillard

Philippe-Hilaire "Philip" Remillard was born on December 18, 1834, in St-Valentin, Quebec. When he was 19, he went to Boston. There, he learned how to make bricks. He stayed in Boston from 1852 to 1854. Then, he traveled west to San Francisco. He arrived on February 17, 1854, after traveling through Panama.

He first went to the mining areas in Nevada and stayed there until 1860. He earned some money near Auburn, California, and then went to Oakland. He briefly went to Idaho before returning to East Oakland in 1862. By 1864, he was involved in making bricks. His small business soon grew to be the biggest of its kind in the area.

In 1878, he bought a block of land in Oakland. The family home was there until about 1883. His widowed mother then built a beautiful home nearby. Philip never married. He was known as a very popular person in Oakland. He passed away on March 12, 1901, after a fall. At the time of his death, he was the vice president of the Remillard Brick Company.

Edouard "Edward" Remillard

Edouard "Edward" Remillard was born on February 1, 1840, in St-Valentin, Quebec. In 1859, he left Quebec and went to California to join his two older brothers. He first worked in the mines for a short time. Soon after, he went to Oakland and San Francisco. There, the three brothers became partners in the Remillard Brothers Brick Company.

Around 1866, Edward returned to Canada. On January 14, 1867, he married his cousin, Virginie Remillard, in Napierville. She was born on December 15, 1847. Edward and Virginia first lived in East Oakland. They built a comfortable home there. Later, they moved to Clay Street, where they lived until 1887. Then, they moved to Webster Street.

Edward passed away on March 10, 1903, in Oakland. He was 63 years old. He died while sitting in a chair, talking to his brother, P.N. Remillard.

Countess Lillian Remillard Dandini

Countess Lillian Remillard Dandini was the daughter of Pierre-Nicolas and Cordule (Laurin) Remillard. She was born on April 28, 1880, in Oakland. She passed away on July 17, 1973, in San Francisco. She took over the company from her father. This happened after the unexpected death of her brother Philip in March 1901.

Lillian was known for owning and preserving a beautiful mansion called Chateau Carolands in Hillsborough, California. At one time, it was the second largest house in the United States. She bought it in 1953 and lived there until she died. She wanted the Chateau to become a museum of music and art for the city of Hillsborough. However, she did not leave money to buy the music or art. So, the city of Hillsborough eventually sold the house. She married Count Alessandro Dandini around 1932, and they divorced around 1939.

Many members of the Remillard family are buried in the Remillard Mausoleum. This is located in Mountain View Cemetery (Oakland, California). Many wealthy people from the Bay Area are buried there. Edward and his wife were buried in the nearby Saint Mary's Cemetery.