Erin in Houston County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Quarry Lime Kiln
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 4, 2022
1. The Quarry Lime Kiln Marker
The Quarry Lime Kiln, the only one of four original kilns that remains at this site situated along the edge of a large limestone quarry, was constructed of a limestone exterior and brick interior c. 1880s. Considered the largest and most modern of Houston County's lime kiln operations, this site involved a large platform and rail line spanning all four kiln tops, as small rail cars transported limestone from the quarry to the kilns. The complex engineering and construction involved an ash chamber door design, facilitating ΰ perpetual burning kiln with an efficient ash removal system and automatic hopper. Once processed, limestone was placed on a large concrete platform for cooling and limestone products were transported via the extinct L&N Railroad spur to areas regionally, some as far away as New Orleans. Houston County's lime kiln industry played a significant role in defining early area economy, employing 100 men in 1883 to produce 60,000 barrels of lime annually; a perishable byproduct used as quicklime in building construction, whitening materials (bleaching powder), including soap and glass making. Later, this site produced an average of 2,000 tons of crushed limestone gravel a month for road, bridge and dam construction during the 1940s.
Erected by Old Reynoldsburgh Chapter, National
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 36° 19.015′ N, 87° 42.727′ W. Marker is in Erin, Tennessee, in Houston County. It is on Metcalf Drive north of West Main Street (Tennessee Route 49), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 Metcalf Dr, 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 flies: The Limekilns (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eighty Eight Steps to Knowledge (approx. half a mile away); Erin United Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Houston County Time Capsule (approx. one mile away); Francis C. Green Sgt. (approx. one mile away); Dedicated to All Veterans of Houston County (approx. one mile away); L&N Railroad Turntable (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Wells Creek Basin (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Erin.
Regarding The Quarry Lime Kiln. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the site:
According to available records, John Conroy of Clarksville, Tennessee was the first individualto produce lime on the Quarry Limekiln property. In 1867 Mr. Conroy leased from J.L. and Daniel McMillian a large lime ridge north of Arlington, which produced an extremely high quality of lime. It appears that a limekiln was constructed on the property around 1873 or 1875, although an article in the Nashville Tennessean(March 17, 1929) places the construction date of the original kiln at 1871. Mr. Conroy soon ran into financial problems and sold the property for $3,000.00 to Fred G. Williams. Mr. Williams built a second kiln on the property around 1873 and proceeded to run a successful lime business for the next decade.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 4, 20222. The Quarry Lime Kiln Marker
Sometime between 1873 and 1883, Henry H. Buquo and Volney R. Harris purchased quarry land adjoining Mr. Williams property and entered into a cooperative agreement to burn limestone at Mr. Williams limekilns. As a result of this agreement, the lime production business increased and by 1883 some 100 men were employed at the kilns, which were producing about 60,000 barrels of lime per year. Because of the high demand for lime, Mr. Buquo and Mr. Harris began to construct a third limekiln on their property in 1883. By 1886 they were producing roughly 300 barrels of lime per day (Goodspeed 1886). These three kilns would later form the basis of the Erin Lime Works.
Also see . . .
1. Quarry Limekiln (PDF)
Art Gerber via National Register of Historic Places nomination, National Park Service (Public Domain), November 2002
3. The Quarry Lime Kiln
2. From the Archives: Historic sites in plain sight. Leaf Chronicle website entry:
"Several lime kilns (in Houston County) are still standing in Houston County and represent a vibrant industry during the time they operated." (Submitted on August 29, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
