Rich Gerberding wrote:
Anyone out there ever heard of "Kankakee Clay Partition"? They are clay
building materials that are throughout an old (mid 19th century) barn
building a group I'm part of is looking to purchase in Peoria, IL.
There's a town called Kankakee not too far from Peoria but so far I haven't
had time to do much digging beyond the internet.

The pieces appear to be extruded blocks where stacked one way you see the
sides and they look solid but stacked the other way you can see the open
structure. I can find some pictures to share if it would help anyone out.
....

What specifically do you want/need to know? Sounds like a hollow clay
tile which was (apparently) made locally. Pretty common building
material from the 20s through 50s or so. There were numerous local
manufacturing companies scattered around over the country.

I don't know about earlier than that. Iowa has/had a fair number of
round barns and other structures (silos, etc.). One neat one restored
is the Slayton barn of around 1915

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/hardin/srb.htm

Grandpa was extremely proud of the new hoghouse in an application for
consideration for a "modern farmer" award he filled out in the late
20's -- it was nearly new at the time.

I have no idea whether there's anybody still making a hollow clay tile
or not.