In 1721 the French colonial headquarters made its fourth move on the Coast, from Old Biloxi to New Biloxi, intending to build a permanent fort of bricks. Abundant ideal brick clay was discovered here, the best of four resource sites. After production began, the fort was canceled and the headquarters moved to the Mississippi River to become New Orleans. Bricks remained in demand, and in 1726, under Captain Joseph Moran, 400,000 bricks were produced at this yard. Blacks, Indians, Croatians, Spaniards, Swiss, Austrians, Irish, and English eventually worked the yard. Over two centuries the operation changed ownership four times: first Colin J. McRae; after his death, his partner and manager, another Joseph Moran, sold the yard to Robert Kendall of New Orleans. The original and extended mineral rights were on land owned by McRae, Hanson, and Alsbury. After a major fire halted operations in 1853, the Commercial Bank of Natchez foreclosed and sold the brickyard, including a one-story dwelling, kitchen, Negro and Indian cabins, brickyard, and shed, to James Robb for $25,000. The yard resumed operations as the Imperial Brickyard until 1908, and it never reopened.