Erin in Houston County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Limekilns
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 1, 2020
1. The Limekilns
Inscription.
The Limekilns. . These kilns were erected around 1870 when the lime industry began to flourish in Houston County. History records that John Conroy of Clarksville was the first to operate a limekiln in this vicinity. The kilns were constructed of chiseled stone, by skilled stone masons, with the use of mortar, and the fire chambers were lined with brick. Limestone was loaded at the top, fired by wood to a high temperature then pulverized to a fine powder. This product was 99.9% pure and shipped to several cities in the United States for the purpose of water purification. The lime industry played a large part in the economy of this county until the early 1940's when the high quality of limestone was depleted.
These kilns were erected around 1870 when the lime industry began to
flourish in Houston County. History records that John Conroy of
Clarksville was the first to operate a limekiln in this vicinity. The kilns
were constructed of chiseled stone, by skilled stone masons, with
the use of mortar, and the fire chambers were lined with brick.
Limestone was loaded at the top, fired by wood to a high temperature
then pulverized to a fine powder. This product was 99.9% pure and
shipped to several cities in the United States for the purpose of water
purification. The lime industry played a large part in the economy of
this county until the early 1940's when the high quality of limestone
was depleted.
Erected 2006 by Houston County Historical Society / Wisdom Masonic Lodge No. 300.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 36° 18.945′ N, 87° 42.872′ W. Marker is in Erin, Tennessee, in Houston County. It can be reached from the intersection of McMillian Street and Hiett Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 78 McMillian St, Erin TN 37061, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 1, 2020
2. The Limekilns
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 1, 2020
3. The Limekilns
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 1, 2020
4. The Limekilns
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 1, 2020
5. The Limekilns
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 536 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 17, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
