2008

Limehouse Kiln Society Announces Restoration Grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Limehouse Kiln Society is pleased to announce the receipt of a substantial grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It is to be used expressly for the restoration of the large draw kiln, built in the 1800s, located within the hamlet of Limehouse, Ontario. This is very exciting for all those involved, as the work will provide easier and safer access to the historic site for all users of the Bruce Trail in the Limehouse Conservation Area.

Community awareness plans, submitted with the grant application, will ensure the public is aware of the site and will find interpretive signage to guide their hikes when they visit. The Kiln Society also submitted their fundraising plans that outline their plans for future fund raising efforts that will see the completion of this historic lime industry restoration
and preservation work.

A total of $150,000 in funding has been granted for the work which is planned be completed over the course of 2009. These restorations are to correct the many years of damage caused by continued exposure to the Southern Ontario elements, providing a particular challenge for all those involved.

Efforts by Credit Valley Conservation in 2006/2007 to stabilize the outside of the draw kiln have been successful though the site is still fenced off due to concerns for the public’s safety. Working with these massive stones in the kiln will be a challenge and the project will have to proceed carefully from start to finish ensuring the restoration is a
success, which will preserve the history of the lime manufacturing industry for future generations.

Vertical draw kilns were used for the industrial production of lime beginning in the 1860s and relied on the principle of gravity, while providing greater fuel economy to the process. During a time when the settlements relied on natural cement (gypsum), draw kilns allowed the limestone to be cooked close to the production site prior to being slaked
and then shipped for construction purposes. In addition, lime is also used in agriculture, the food industry, sugar refinement, and the chemical industry.

This grant is the result of the most recent application to provide funding for the ongoing restoration work that started with the 1800s Powder Magazine structure in 2004, which officially opened in June, 2005. Other fundraising efforts and grants have provided the monies to temporarily stabilize the draw kiln, create accessible trails, and install signage.

The Limehouse Kiln Society was formed in 1999 with the express intent of preserving the remaining limekiln structures in the area for future generations. Comprised entirely of volunteers from the community and a few local businesses, the Kiln Society relies on fundraising and grants to provide the monies for their restoration work. 2009 will see thecelebration of the Kiln Society’s 10th Anniversary in conjunction with the current draw kiln restoration work.

For more information about the history of the lime manufacturing industry in Ontario or to offer your support for the projects and the Kiln Society, please visit www.limehousekilns.ca.

Annual General Meeting
Limehouse Memorial Hall
10 a.m.

President’s Annual Report

Limehouse Kiln Society

Limehouse Memorial Hall

September 27, 2008

The past fiscal year for the Limehouse Kiln Society has been one of preparing the background information necessary for a submission to the Trillium Foundation. The focus has been for further stabilization and partial restoration of the drawkiln as its condition is one of rapid deterioration. An updated request for a proposal RFP was submitted by George Robb & Associates to Credit Valley Conservation.The proposal was two - fold encompassing kiln conservation as well as a landscape master plan and interpretive strategy.The timing of the proposal submission has to coincide with the deadlines for Trillium which adds to the challenge.It was decided to aim for the deadline either in March or July of 2008.

We also renewed our tri - party management agreement for the next five years with the Town of Halton Hills and Credit Valley Conservation.

In the meantime we remained actively involved with public education and awareness initiatives.

1. Tours were conducted for St. Sebastian elementary school in Mississauga and a university group from Wilfred Laurier University.

2. Three thousand brochures were printed with thanks to Dufferin Aggregates and CBM (Canadian Building Materials) and included in the registration packages for the Georgetown Homecoming.

3. The Limehouse Kiln Society was also included in the Halton Heritage Attractions brochure.

4. The kiln society had displays at Limehouse Memorial Hall for P.O.W.E.R, the Mayor’s Annual Heritage Golf Tournament, the Acton Quarry Open House, Bruce Trail Day ( Spring and Fall ), the Bruce Trail Annual Yard Sale, the 150th anniversary of Limehouse as well as four trips to the Georgetown Farmers’ Market to promote our raffle fundraiser.

5.An invitation was accepted to attend the official opening of the Ring Kiln Side Trail at the Forks of the Credit.

6. We also participated in a Strategic Planning Workshop at the Halton Musem in Kelso.

Revenues for the society included $3300 from the sale of raffle tickets for a painting, theatre and golf packages.

The society was also the recipient of $ 6000 as our share of the proceeds from the mayor’s heritage golf tournament.

Our need for financial support is always in the forefront as we continue our quest to preserve the limekilns in Limehouse.

Submitted by Mary Shier - President - Limehouse Kiln Society
President - Limehouse Kiln Society

9th Annual Mayor's Heritage Golf Tournament
hosted by Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette

Blue Springs Golf and Country Club - Acton.

Proceeds will assist local heritage projects as well as provide operating funds for the The Heritage Foundation of Halton Hills.

For more information contact: Danielle Edwards at the Town of Halton Hills– 905 - 873-2601 x 2345
or DanielleE@haltonhills.ca

April, 2008

Town of Halton Hills aquires historically signifivant Tolton Property

See Town Planning Report (pdf file) for details. More information to come!