Saving the Kilns

Saving the Kilns. . , "The public ...wants heritage to be more active. They don't want , to see a plaque in a green park. They'd rather see more tangible , evidence of the past." , Professor Frank Matero , University of Pennsylvania, STABILIZATION , In April, 2015, the kilns' status was assessed and a preservation plan for their long-term stewardship was created. The conditions assessment identified baseline needs for stabilization, and addressed needs that extended to all the kilns, as well as individual kiln concerns. One of the kilns was fully restored as part of this process., These kilns, which were originally 120 feet in height, still stand despite years of weathering and attempts to deconstruct them. The preservation plan has been completed, but there are still many actions that must be taken. To preserve these kilns for future generations, additional planning and funding, and greater public appreciation of their importance, will be needed., These kilns are an iconic feature of the entire Lehigh Valley cement district, as well as central to the history and community culture of Coplay. Their national significance is recognized by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When they were used to make portland cement, the kilns were housed in a building, with their tops towering forty feet above the roof. But the kilns were shut down in 1904 and the building was removed in 1951, which left them exposed to the elements they were never meant to withstand. Decades of rain, snow, and wind have allowed water to infiltrate the kilns. This has caused mortar to loosen, bricks to crack and fall, and allowed vegetation to grow, which further accelerates the deterioration.