Round Top Cement Mill

Round Top Cement Mill. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Across the canal bed are the remains of the once prosperous Round Top Cement Mill. The abundance of high calcium limestone drew cement manufacturers to this area in 1838. A useful material, limestone can be cut into building blocks or burned and ground for use in fertilizer or natural cement. The eight kilns across from you could produce 48 tons of burnt lime per day. The Round Top Cement Company provided cement for the construction of the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol building, and much of the masonry along the western end of the canal., The Round Top Cement Company struggled to stay profitable in spite of the ease of shipping and the high quality of its cement. Fires in 1848, 1897, and 1903 burned the mill to the ground. Even more devastating than fire was the introduction and manufacturing of Portland cement in the United States in the late 19th century. Weakened by the competition, the Round Top Cement Company was forced to close its operation after the 1903 fire., (caption) , This image shows the mill as it looked before it was rebuilt in 1897. A faulty chimney flue caused the 1903 fire.