Washingtonville Lime Kilns

 

Lime Kilns south of Washingtonville

These are just down the road from what was once Frank Delong's Home in Washingtonville.

The address for these is 300 Bush Road, Danville Pa.  Although a Danville address, this is closer to Washingtonville than to the Danville borough.

In Limestones of Pennsylvania By Benjamin LeRoy Miller · 1925, under Washingtonville, Miller says:

"The two main quarries in this area are about two miles southwest of the town of Washingtonville.  They are along Limestone ridge.  No detailed reports of these quarries  are available because they were not working at the time of the visit."

Bush road does appear to be roughly 2 miles south west of Washingtonville.

February 1872, Charles Mufflet suffocated in Lime Kiln at Washingtonville

See more of the  lime kilns in our area, here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/03/lime-kilns-in-around-west-branch-of.html

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Lime Kilns In & Around The West Branch Of The Susquehanna River

 

An Index, and Assorted Compiled Information, About the Lime Kilns in North Central Pa

The Lime Kiln In Turbotville

The Remains of the old lime kiln, in Turbotville Pa

Forest Iron Works, White Deer

Forest Iron Works

The Forest Iron-Works were erected in 1845, by Green, Howard & Green.  The works were purchased at sheriffs sale for $7,00, by Kaufman and Reber in 1849.

"The rare picture [above] shown of the Forest Iron Works was provided by Jim Wertz. His family ran a gristmill and saw mill adjacent to the Forest Iron-Works along the road running west of the town of White Deer. From the picture one can see a waterwheel to the right of the stack. This wheel powered pistons in the wooden tubs above the wheel, which in turn provided the cold blast of air to the stone furnace in the center. The wooden structure above the stack was the bridge house. The iron ore, charcoal and limestone were hauled from the terrace above the furnace across the bridge and dumped down into the furnace. "  - UCHS

According to a history of White Deer, "A charcoal furnace, the Forest Iron Works, was begun in 1845 by Green, Howard, and Green.  By 1849 it was in the hands of the sheriff because of financial difficulties.  although Kaufman and Reber bought it, for $7,000 in 1850, it never operated successfully.  A Pardee man took over the operation after Kaufman and Reber had been bankrupted, but he had to give it up because it was too expensive."

1849 Sheriff's Sale, describing the property

Henry Shoemaker's writings are...  not to be trusted as history, on the whole.  He was a folklorist.  But he did also sometimes write good historical information - it's just difficult to tell what is what when it comes to his works.  In a 1934 article for the Altoona Tribune (he was editor) he wrote of a trip by the Northumberland Historical Society.  One of the stops was at the "famous Forest Iron Works, further up White Deer Creek, where Ario Pardee gained most of his fortune by cornering the state's supply of pig iron in the panic of 1857.  Later in the panic of 1873, Pardee closed down the works to save losses".

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LOCATION

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1856 map

I found these gps coordinates for the location of the old furnace, but I have not confirmed them - 41.07397,-76.93497  (Please don't trespass.  I have no idea what is at that  exact location - but it's likely private land)

"Limestone, so abundant along Penns Creek that a township was named for it, provided rich soil, building material, and smelting flux for the iron industry. Buffalo Valley's farms yielded enough produce to export to the coal towns east of the river. Large deposits of iron ore were processed at Glen Iron Furnace in Hartley Township, Union Furnace in Winfield, and Forest Iron Works on White Deer Creek. " 

1850 Map

"The Charcoal furnaces of the Forest Iron Works is an old establishment which has been in operation for many years, producing a celebrated brand of charcoal iron which has always commanded the highest market price.  Owing to the general stagnation of the iron industry, a stock of about 1,200 tons of No 1 iron has accumulated at the furnace, but a save was recently made to parties at Williamsport and Bellefonte, and additional orders are daily expected.  The furnace has been in blast since last May, and is still in operation, producing iron at the rate of 40 tons per a week.  The capacity of the furnace will be somewhat increased this year.  The iron ore is procured from Centre county, about four miles from Bellefonte, at which place it is loaded on cars and shipped to White Deer Station via Lock Haven.

The ore is the kilns known as pipe ore, and is exceedingly rich, from which iron of the every best quality is manufactured.  The ore occurs in inexhaustible quantities, and large works have been put up at the ore bed which have been in constant operation from the time that the bed was first opened.

1872

In addition to the furnace at the Forest Iron Works, there is a grist-mill, saw-mill, store, blacksmith, wheelwright, and carpenters shops, farm building, and other buildings usually appurtenant to an establishment of this kind.  " -  Reading Times, 15 Mar 1875

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In July of 1893, Capt I.A. Ranck took a company of cadets on a march up White Deer Creek, to the ruins of the White Deer Iron Furnace.  The cadets camped in the buildings of the iron works, and slept in the barn on the farm.  The article about the outing states that "the Iron Works had long been closed."

"One stack, built in 1846"

Directory of Iron and Steel Works of the United States and Canada. (1890). United States: American Iron and Steel Institute. [listed under "long abandoned"]

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1860 - Forest Iron Works For Sale

Reading Times
15 Mar 1875

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Clara Kauffman daughter of David, died in 1934.  Her obituary included "the daughter of David Kauffman, who was the owner of the Forest Iron Works at White Deer for many years."

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Bear Hunting near the iron works, from a 1921 newspaper

I haven't checked this  - but I think the article here, although signed by J.W. Zimmerman, may be a Shoemaker story?  Perhaps Zimmerman is quoting Shoemaker?  I'm really not certain - but it should be looked into before anyone takes this as fact...

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1893

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January 1908

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Directory of Iron and Steel Works of the United States and Canada Volume 11, 1892

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Report

By Pennsylvania State University · 1913

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David Barnet Kauffman was born in 1826.  He married Rebecca Madina.  David died in Jan of 1880, and is buried at St John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.

"David B. Kaufman, of the Forest Iron Works, Union county, Pennsylvania, formerly of this county and a step brother of John G. Kaufman, of Leesport, and Samuel Kaufman, of Reading, died on Tuesday, 13th inst., and will be buried on Friday, 16th inst."

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See more of the  lime kilns in our area, here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/03/lime-kilns-in-around-west-branch-of.html

That Pile Of Stones Along The Old Montoursville Road - The Sand Hill Lime Kilns

On the road from Montoursville to Williamsport, with the highway curving around it, sits the remains of the one of the old Sand Hill Limestone Kilns.

Early settlers came to  the  area along Sand Hill, building kilns to capitalize on the limestone found all throughout the Loyalsock area. 

The  Sand Hill Lime Kiln with the Williamsport to Montoursville Trolley Line in front 

Lime kilns were built of stone, with walls several feet thick, and an opening at the base, and at the top.  The limestone would be burnt in the kiln for at least 72 hours, at high temperatures,  to burn off the carbon dioxide. The powdered lime that remained would be scraped off the bottom of the kiln and packed in wooden barrels for shipping.

The Williamsport Sun Gazette, September 1912

Lime was a useful, and versatile, commodity, in high demand. In early log cabins, lime was applied as a whitewash on the inside walls.  Farmers still use it today to improve their fields.  Lime was also used to make mortar, to bind stones and brick together in building, and it was used to make a plaster, which was smoothed over wooden laths for flat walls and ceilings in most 19th century homes and buildings. 

A horse drawn carriage in the area of the  Sand Hill Lime Kiln was used to transport stone.  A conveyor belt with buckets lifted stones to the shaker, where the varying sizes of gravel were separated into 3 different sizes, each dropped into a  wooden bin.  Some of the stone was used to pave the roads.

The Canton Independent, May 26 1899

The building in front of the old Sand Hill Lime Kiln, about 1912.  The kiln was behind the building, the trolley tracks can be seen in front. The furnace building and most of the structures around it were still standing as late as 1959.

Sun Gazette

August 29 1914

The Sand Hill Lime Kiln, with the Thompson House across the road - before the beltway was constructed.

August 26 1915 - Fire!
"A large lime kiln along the Montoursville road below Williamsport was destroyed by fire supposed to have been lightening as it's instigator.  The blaze was conquered  by citizens who organized a bucket brigade and obtained water supply from pools along the road."
The Williamsport Sun Gazette

1981 - Two Kilns Bulldozed, One Remains

"Penn Dot Willing To Salvage Old Kiln"

read the headline in a December 31 1981 issue of the Williamsport Sun Gazette.

But they weren't willing to pay for the restoration themselves, they were looking for a historical group interested in paying for the work to be done.  

"The kiln was one of three left on sand hill from the days when they were used to produce lime by burning stone quarried on the hill."
The two kilns that were bulldozed were "probably in better condition than the one that is fortunate enough to be out the way of the new road".
The article goes on to report that the kiln overlooks the Beltway overpass being built over the new road around Sand Hill.

Another article in the Williamsport Sun Gazette tells us "Long-gone businesses along this short stretch of highway between Loyalsock and Montoursville known as Sand Hill included Hurr’s Dairy, the Skat gas station and the White Horse Inn."  Part of Sand Hill remains today, but a section of it was leveled to relocate and improve the highway.




On The Maps
There were at least three lime kilns situated right in this area of Loyalsock Township, on the road between Montoursville & Williamsport.   Two were torn down when the Beltway was constructed. 

1861 Map Of Lycoming County

Note that there is a kiln listed on each side of the school, and then to the right, the "Harris & Company Kilns" Pink sectino of the map is Williamsport, the Blue is Montoursville.

A wider view of the 1861 map above

Note that there were kilns on the other side of Montoursville as well. 

The 1873 map shows the lime kiln, and then on down, "The Lime Kilns Of Mrs Rithmuls"

On this same map, J.D. Bird is listed as owner of the farm and lime burner

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See more of the  lime kilns in our area, here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/03/lime-kilns-in-around-west-branch-of.html

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Sun Gazette

February 10, 1911

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September 7 1943

James V. Curchoe's first employment "as a lad"  (probably 1890s) was a water boy for one of the big lime kilns, located east of the city on the highway leading to Montoursville

Farm Near Lime Kilns  - 

 April 1914

The Thompson Farm Stand

Shown in photos above, across from the Lime Kiln

August 16, 1913

"They were riding double and had been moving at a good speed until they reaches the little hill just above the line kilns and which runs towards Montoursville."

Remnants of a Lime Kiln along the west entrance to Tules Run Development, near Twin Hills in Muncy

Various Unverified Facebook Comments & Posts:
"There were 16 kilns in that area"
Early 1900s - Owned by Sheriff Fred Shale and his son Christian B. Shale.

Chippewa Lime Kilns & Mill, Lime Bluff, Lycoming County Pa

Formerly LocatedAlong Chippewa Rd in Muncy Pa 

[Torn Down in 2023]

GPS Cords 41.23676, -76.77601

Lime Operations along Chippewa Road, near Hughesville, Lycoming County Pa.

  

Tucked into the hillside on each side of the building the old lime kilns.

In Muncy Valley Lifeline by Thomas Taber, we find that there were

...six kilns from Henry Kilgus,... twenty five of M.E. Reeder, ...twenty three more kilns operated by four different people."  

Excerpt from Taber's Chronology Of Muncy

The lime kilns are shown on the 1873 atlas for Lycoming County.  Note that Opp is listed right below the kilns.  H.C. Reeder has property north of the kilns, on this same map (not shown on this snippet]

The Opp Lime works were advertised right above Chippewa Lime Works, in the 1902 Laporte Newspaper.

In November 1855, "The directors of the W. and N. B.R.R. last week accepted the recent offer of the citizens of Muncy to procure the right of way for their road from the Lime Kilns to the P. and R.R.R., if they would change the terminus from Halls to Muncy."

The first mention I've found of the Chippewa kilns in old newspapers was in December of 1902.  M. E. [Milton E.] Reader of Hughesville was the proprietor at that time.  This exact same ad ran regularly, every year through 1910.

In 1903, Reeder advertised his jersey cattle, and his lime, in the calendar printed by the News Item that year.

An article in the Laporte Paper tells us more about Reeders farm:

"Friday last found the editor of this paper enjoying a few hours on Chippewa farm, the home of M. E. Reeder, near Hughesville. There are few people in this county who have not heard of Chippewa, both through the popularity of the owner and the extensive advertisement given to the large lime kilns there located which command a large patronage from all our neighboring counties. Mr.

Reeder has recently added ;several acres to his already large estate, and is now stocking the farm with registered Jersey cattle. This valuable estate has been greatly neglected for years past, but In the short space of time it has been in the possession of Mr. Reeder there has been a multitude of changes going on. This year will see many more improvements about the place. Old buildings will be removed, and larger and better equipped ones will take their place.

Concentration with ample capacity is the law of order manifested. We shall make another visit to Chippewa when the mechanics have completed their work and will bring in use a kodak to coax some of its scenery around on glass and have them transferred to these columns, and show our husbandry readers the advantages of farming in a business like way."

C. Wilbert Reeder was the son of Milton E. Reeder.

Also in 1903, The General Store at Nordmont advertised that Chippewa Lime could be purchased there.

Fire in the milk house, on Reeders Chippewa Farm, April 1909

In 1911, Henry Kilgus reported to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette that it was a record year for Chippewa Lime.

The Kilgus weigh scale , with  Harold Kilgus and Barbara Ann Leavy Spotts on bikes out front.

Henry Kilgus  was born September 9 1854 in Lycoming County, the son of Michael and Frances Kilgus.  His occupation on the census from 1880-1940 was Lime Burning, Lime Manufacturing, or Lime Proprietor, and the same occupation was listed on his death certificate in October 1951.

On April 6th 1916 the Muncy Luminary reported that "Chester Artley moved on Wednesday to Chippewa, where he will be employed in the M.E. Reeder lime kilns."

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Chippewa Station

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In August of 1912, A load of lime was being placed on the wagon of the Chippewa Lime Kilns, when shortly before the excursion train reached the Chippewa crossing the engineer sounded his whistle.  It's believed that the noise frightened the team, who then dashed into the excursion train.  One of the horses was instantly killed, the other was so injured he had to be put down.  The article in the Republican News Item states "The kiln is a short distance from the railroad crossing and the team plunged headlong into the train as it passed this point." [full newspaper article can be found at the bottom of this page]

May 1904

Chippewa Station, at stop on the W.&N.B. railroad line, near the lime kilns.

Proposed Rate Increase [Denied] November 1916

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THE QUARRY

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Map of the Quarries, based on a post from the East Lycoming Historical Society

In July of 1900, 30 year old Harvey Karshner was killed while working at the quarry.  Harry Conrad working with him, was severely injured.

Photo of the Antler Turner Drilling Rig at Chippewa

Limestone was quarried  from the hill with stone drills and black powder to make workable size chunks, then processed the lime in kilns to reduce it to a white granular form which could the be spread on farm fields, to help take the acidity out of the soil.

Working in the Quarry at Chippewa

In the quarry at Chippewa. This photo is labeled:

left to right: Gene Reed, Ike Moser, John Sahn, Billy Joyce, Frank Baker

1946

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THE MILL

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The old Chippewa Grinding Mill began operating after the Lime Kilns were no longer in use. Limestone was placed in a large wooden hopper and fed into a rotary grinding machine.  After grinding it was loaded into trucks and spread onto farm fields to lower the acidity of the soil. 

The mill was torn down in 2023.

Bloomsburg Morning Press, March 1950

See more of the  lime kilns in our area, here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/03/lime-kilns-in-around-west-branch-of.html

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Accident, August 1912

Time Table for the W.&N.B. in 1906, listing the stop at Chippewa

Opp Lime Kilns,  1902

[Ad Ran directly above the ad for Chippewa Lime ]

GAZETTE AND BULLETIN

December 26, 1945

Williamsport, PA

MILTON REEDER, FORMER COUNTY OFFICIAL, DIES

Milton E. Reeder, former county commissioner, died suddenly about 11 a.m., Monday, December 24, 1945, at his home on West Penn Street, Muncy.

Mr. Reeder was formerly president of the Reeder Line and Stone Company.

He was born in Wolf Township, March 18, 1866, the son of Peter and Sarah F. Ritter Reeder.

Educated in the school in the county, he conducted a mercantile business in Watsontown for five years and subsequently spent 11 years in the lumber business in Sullivan County and another 11 years in farming and the lime manufacturing business.

Mr. Reeder was a member of Muncy Lodge No. 299, F and A. M. and belongs to all the Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, including the consistory, thirty-second degree, and the Shrine. He was a trustee of the Muncy Masonic lodge.

Club affiliations included the Acacia Club and Howard Club of Knights Templar.

In 1921, he was elected chief burgess of Muncy for a four year term and in April 1934, he was appointed county commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Francis M. Gallagher, deceased. He was president of the board until 1939 when he declined to seek re-election.

A member of the Reformed Church of Watsontown, Mr. Reeder is survived by two daughters and one son, Mrs. Earl G. Rose, Newfoundland, Mrs. Harold F. Baker and Wilbert, both of Muncy, and by five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Reeder home in Muncy with the Rev. Herman G. Steumpfle, a pastor of the Hughesville Lutheran Church, officiating.

Burial will be in the Muncy Cemetery.

1941

Sale Of Chippewa Farm, by the lime kilns, in 1945: