Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln
Encyclopedia
Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln is one of two old lime kilns in Illinois listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The other is the Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln
in Pike County. Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln is located near the Ogle County
city of Polo
. When in use, the kiln would have produced raw quicklime. The lime kiln was added to the National Register in 2002.
's limestone bluffs
are set off to the north, behind the kiln.
The fire boxes are found outside the interior vertical column, which climbs 25 feet (7.6 m) into the air. The kiln
was constructed of native limestone, quarried on its location in 1870, according to news articles of the day. It is a wood burning perpetual kiln, or draw-down kiln, which means it must be continuously fired. Between the kiln's outer limestone rock wall and the interior fire brick vertical column is a layer of dirt for insulation. The 16 feet (4.9 m) tall stone base is topped with a wooden structure, which was rebuilt from the original in 1992. On top of that is a metal gable
d roof. Attached to the kiln section, is a dry shed/lime house, into which the draw section open. The dry shed was long gone when the kiln was restored in 1992 and had to be replaced along with the deteriorated original wood sections topping the base.
column extends 25 feet (7.6 m) into the air and has an interior diameter of six feet. Below, at the kiln's base, is a four foot section for cooling, below that are the draw outs. The handcut stone base is 16 feet (4.9 m) square by 16 feet (4.9 m) high. The dry shed is nine feet high by 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and sits on a six foot stone base.
had to be removed from around the stones and replaced. The replacement was a fifty percent mortar fifty percent cement
mix, to preserve the restoration. The wooden upper portion of the kiln had deteriorated completely beyond repair and had to be entirely replaced. The top portion was constructed in sections off-site and then lifted into place using a crane
. The whole structure was then topped with an aluminum roof to protect it from future deterioration. The attachment of the roof rendered the kiln inoperable, although, if it were removed the Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln would be fully functional and ready for lime
production.
The lime house, attached to the kiln
, was also fully restored. When the lime kiln was in use the small, attached room had served as a storage area but it had been gone since at least the 1930s. Using early historical photographs as references, the lime house was reconstructed atop a stone
foundation. The lumber used to construct the new lime house was authentic late-19th century barn lumber. Atop, the lime house, like the kiln itself, an aluminum roof was placed.
The restoration was completed in 1993 at a final cost of around $10,000.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The other is the Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln
Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln
The Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln is located near village of Valley City, Illinois in Pike County. The periodic lime kiln is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation it gained in August 1999. It is actually within the boundaries of the Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area...
in Pike County. Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln is located near the Ogle County
Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle...
city of Polo
Polo, Illinois
Polo is a city in Ogle County, Illinois. The population was 2,355 at the 2010 census, down from 2,477 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Polo is located at ....
. When in use, the kiln would have produced raw quicklime. The lime kiln was added to the National Register in 2002.
Location
The Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln is found outside of the city of Polo, off Galena Trail Road. The kiln sits on the floor of a limestone quarry, a little over 1400 feet (426.7 m) from the road. Railroad tracks pass by within ten feet to the kiln's south and Buffalo Creek is just over the railroad tracks. The quarryQuarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
's limestone bluffs
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
are set off to the north, behind the kiln.
Kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
was constructed of native limestone, quarried on its location in 1870, according to news articles of the day. It is a wood burning perpetual kiln, or draw-down kiln, which means it must be continuously fired. Between the kiln's outer limestone rock wall and the interior fire brick vertical column is a layer of dirt for insulation. The 16 feet (4.9 m) tall stone base is topped with a wooden structure, which was rebuilt from the original in 1992. On top of that is a metal gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof. Attached to the kiln section, is a dry shed/lime house, into which the draw section open. The dry shed was long gone when the kiln was restored in 1992 and had to be replaced along with the deteriorated original wood sections topping the base.
Dimensions
Inside the kiln the fire brickFire brick
A fire brick, firebrick, or refractory brick is a block of refractory ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is built primarily to withstand high temperature, but will also usually have a low thermal conductivity for greater energy efficiency...
column extends 25 feet (7.6 m) into the air and has an interior diameter of six feet. Below, at the kiln's base, is a four foot section for cooling, below that are the draw outs. The handcut stone base is 16 feet (4.9 m) square by 16 feet (4.9 m) high. The dry shed is nine feet high by 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and sits on a six foot stone base.
History
After sitting idle for decades the Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln was acquired by the Polo Historical Society in 1985. They began clearing trees, brush and debris around the kiln. A restoration project began in 1992 at a cost of $10,000. The lime kiln at Buffalo Grove has had a long history that dates back even further than the lime kiln that stands on the site today.Restoration
In 1992 a restoration project began under the guidance of the Polo Historical Society and member Paul Graehling. The old, loose mortarMortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
had to be removed from around the stones and replaced. The replacement was a fifty percent mortar fifty percent cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
mix, to preserve the restoration. The wooden upper portion of the kiln had deteriorated completely beyond repair and had to be entirely replaced. The top portion was constructed in sections off-site and then lifted into place using a crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
. The whole structure was then topped with an aluminum roof to protect it from future deterioration. The attachment of the roof rendered the kiln inoperable, although, if it were removed the Buffalo Grove Lime Kiln would be fully functional and ready for lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
production.
The lime house, attached to the kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
, was also fully restored. When the lime kiln was in use the small, attached room had served as a storage area but it had been gone since at least the 1930s. Using early historical photographs as references, the lime house was reconstructed atop a stone
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
foundation. The lumber used to construct the new lime house was authentic late-19th century barn lumber. Atop, the lime house, like the kiln itself, an aluminum roof was placed.
The restoration was completed in 1993 at a final cost of around $10,000.