Mammoth Lime Kiln, Dodgeville

10/11/2024

Well, this seems significant.
A "nomination questionnaire" was submitted earlier this summer to the Wisconsin Historical Society, that begins the process of the kiln becoming a registered landmark.
Our last post noted they had recently update their site with information provided to them regarding the kiln.
Today we received a letter from them, and while they haven't yet said the kiln is being accepted, the letter does state:

"The Resource Evaluation Committee of the State Historic Preservation Office has carefully reviewed information to evaluate the potential for listing on the State Register and National Register of Historic Places.
Based on the information provided, the committee believes that the Mammoth Lime Kiln is potentially eligible for the National Register under Criterion D, for archeology, for its significance as a nineteenth century industrial site related to the production of lime in this area of Iowa County.
Please know that our determination is based on the strict requirements of the National Register program."

(Criterion D for the National Register of Historic Places states that a property is eligible if it has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information about prehistory or history.)
"A list of consultants is provided to assist in the national nomination, They have expressed an interest in this work and have recently successfully completed nominations in Wisconsin."

The list of consultants is like 75 or so. I think we'll start with some from Wisconsin and see where that takes us.

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09/26/2024

Creeping forward: Monday, a local mason looked at the kiln to assess it's condition.
He said while it will need a lot of mortar, the main thing right now would be clearing the tree and shrub growth so their roots don't damage the walls, roof or foundation. I have permission to do that, so it's on the schedule for next week. I had assumed a tree was growing in the middle of the kiln and coming out the top, but he said there is a roof of some sort, or fill from the hillside has covered the top to allow the vegetation.
As for the beam that has come out, he said that has nothing to do with the structural integrity of the stone itself. We decided that the beam was there for the attachment of south lean-to shed that my previous post shows with the kiln.
The corners of the kiln are good yet and if they stay solid, that helps keep the whole thing together. I still don't know about the three big rocks that fell and were stopped by the beam, but I guess those should be able to be put back in. I'm sure we'll also replace the beam while doing that just for help in setting the rocks up.
The Wisconsin Historical Society needed some photos that were within 30 days of Historic Recognition submission. They have updated their site to show the kiln information that was submitted with the historic designation request:
https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI47215
Todays photo is one I took a month ago and submitted to the Historical Society. It will look much different with all the greenery removed but will be better for the structure in the long run.

09/19/2024

The good news is, the State DOT has approved the right-of-way work permit for the kiln.
The bad news is three rocks fell and broke the timber that had come out of the front. The timber was probably needing to be replaced anyway, or at least shored up with another.
But I've spoken with two more masons that have interest in working on the kiln, just no one with time to get at it right now, and I think it is urgent to get at least someone to stabilize it for now.

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09/08/2024

Here's a view of the west side of the kiln and what it looked like while still in operation.
Piles of crushed material sitting in the quarried area, probably taken by wheelbarrow across that top scaffolding and dumped down to be heated.
Someone may know the actual process and can comment below.

09/06/2024

From the 1881 book, History of Iowa County;
T.B and B.B. Davis own the patent lime kiln. They came to the U.S. with their mother and siblings in 1856 after their father David, passed away in Wales. I've not seen yet where their full names are given.
The book states : B.B. has been a partner with his brother, T. B. Davis, in the lime business; theirs is the only patent kiln in Iowa Co., and is located one and a half miles southeast of the village of Dodgeville."...and burns about 12,000 bushels of lime per annum."

I'm not sure how that compares in volume to other kilns in the state, but an 1872 advertisement does show they provided mortar county wide:

And the earlier Cutler and Van Duyn ad from 1869:

09/06/2024

Thank you all that have liked and are now following the Mammoth Lime Kiln page!
We're in the process of having some stone masons look at the structure to see what needs to be done and how much it will cost. There are some hurdles that need to be leaped, but I think we can get there.
I've been in contact with the WI State Historical Society, and while this is listed on their site as an Historic Structure, it's not registered with them or National. They said that would be a big step in helping to get grants for the expenses.
It's being debated yet if this is in road right-of-way, and that is a big factor in support primarily the local Town and County board members, Zoning and Planning but also state DOT due to possible needs for road turn-off, parking and signage.
Right now we have verbal permission by the DOT for a work permit, that would be needed just to get in there and stop it from falling.
I think the more interest there is, the better the chances are for getting/letting the historic designation and restoration.

★★★☆☆ · Historical landmark

09/05/2024

This is the south view of the lime kiln taken several years ago. It's in need of some serious mortar work as well as the main wood beam now coming out jeopardising the main wall.

09/05/2024

This kiln on Highway 191 less than a mile east of Dodgeville was built in 1850. It was originally called the Mammoth Lime Kiln and is/could probably be the oldest lime kiln in Wisconsin due to the location of the earliest English residents. It is one of the few limestone kilns to remain standing in the state.
In August 1869, it was owned by Cutler & Van Duyn. In 1871, D.B. Davis and T. B. Davis, came to Dodgeville and and it ran as the only patent kiln in Iowa County.
There was an article in the Dodgeville Chronicle in March of 1922 telling of efforts to raze the kiln, but obviously that hasn't happened.
Our goal is to have this historic structure repaired and preserved.