Late 1800s - 1900s Lime Kiln Technology

Late 1800s - 1900s Lime Kiln Technology. . The Dolly Varden operation was known as Canada Lime Works under the ownership of C.S. Smith. It eventually amalgamated with the Gowdy operation at Limehouse and became known as the Toronto Lime Works., There are two types of lime kilns which were used at the Limehouse and Dolly Varden operations. ‘Set’ kilns had been originally used at the Gowdy operation in Limehouse and date back to the 1840s. Firewood was placed in the kiln from the top with limestone and the other necessary ingredients. Lime chunks would be removed from the fire hole at the bottom front followed by a shutdown period. At Dolly Varden, 'draw kilns’ were introduced and used by the 1870s. The top of the kiln was level with the floor of the quarry where a wagon of raw materials could be dropped into the opening. With the ‘draw’ kiln system, lime could be drawn out of the opening at ground level and fuel could be continually added through the fire boxes on each side of the kiln without any shut down period., By 1917, the Gowdy Limehouse operations ceased due to declining markets, advancing technology and generally poor economic conditions. This closure resulted in heavier activity at the Dolly Varden kilns until they finally closed in 1931.